Mayor Kraham Reminds Residents to Protect Against Frozen Pipes as Temperatures Plummet

(BINGHAMTON, N.Y.)—Mayor Jared M. Kraham on Friday reminded residents to take precautions to prevent pipes from freezing as temperatures drop in the coming days.

Mayor Kraham said: "With below-zero temperatures expected in Binghamton in the days ahead, I'm reminding residents to take steps to keep pipes from freezing in homes and businesses. Being proactive can help prevent costly property damage and other headaches that come along with frozen pipes."

Pipes in unheated interior areas, like basements, crawl spaces, attics, garages or kitchen cabinets, are among the most at risk of freezing. Pipes running against exterior walls with little or no insulation can also freeze frequently.

The American Red Cross offers the following tips to prevent frozen pipes:

• Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.
• When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe, even at a trickle, helps prevent pipes from freezing.
• Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.
• If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.

For more information, residents can visit www.redcross.org or contact the City of Binghamton's Department of Public Works Dispatch at (607) 772-7020.