Tips to avoid frozen water lines in subzero temperatures

Mt. Pleasant Utilities has a list of tips to avoid frozen water lines in subzero temperatures.

On Wednesday, Jan. 30, the predicted temperature with wind chill was below -50 degrees.

In weather like this, Mt. Pleasant Utilities advises everyone to keep their garage doors closed because there are often water supply lines in the garage.

Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing, Mt. Pleasant Utilities suggests. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals out of the reach of children and animals.

Let cold water drip from the faucets served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe, even at a trickle, helps prevent pipes from freezing.

Insulate water supply lines in the basement, crawl spaces, under the kitchen and in bathroom cabinets. Seal up all areas that are prone to drafts and cold air.

Mt. Pleasant Utilities also has six energy-saving tips for winter.

Switch ceiling fans' blades rotation. Hot air rises, so reversing the rotation will help push warm air back down.

Naturally heat a house by opening the curtains of south-facing windows during the day for sunlight.

Weatherproof the windows. Up to 30 percent of the a house's heat can escape through windows. Covering them with clear plastic film will save about 14 percent of the heating bill, according to Mt. Pleasant Utilities.

Cut drafts by installing weather-stripping around doors, windows and electrical outlets.

If there is a utilities-related emergency, call Mt. Pleasant Utilities at 319-385-2121 and press 1.