With low temperatures forecast below freezing for the rest of the week in the Valley, a water company is offering home and business owners suggestions on how to prevent their pipes from freezing, causing damage that could result in expensive repairs.

Aqua Ohio issued a press release with the following recommendations:

• Keeping a supply of heat tape and pipe insulation, as well as a portable space heater and a hair dryer, on hand.
• Locating and visibly marking the home's master water valve. If a pipe does break, use this valve to turn off water to the home.
• Make sure the lids on outdoor meter pits are not broken or missing.
• Shutting off and draining any outside faucets, including those for lawn sprinkling systems.
• Preventing drafts in unheated areas, such as crawl spaces or basements, by adding insulation, replacing broken glass, or making other repairs.

Aqua also advises customers to take the following precautions in any unheated areas of their homes when temperatures drop below freezing:

• Wrap pipes with insulation material or heat tape. Wrap indoor water meters with a blanket. Proper and safe use of portable space heaters can also keep exposed pipes in drafty areas from freezing.
• If you have interior plumbing located on an outside wall, such as a kitchen sink, install heat tape on the pipes running beneath the sink. If no small children are in the house, leave cabinet doors open to allow the warm air in the home to reach the pipes.
• If temperatures drop to 10°F or below, consider leaving a very thin stream of water running continuously from at least one tap - preferably the one farthest from the meter - to prevent pipes from freezing. The cost of the additional water usage is much cheaper than the cost of repairing ruptured pipes.
• If a pipe does freeze and you can locate the frozen area, open a spigot, and use a hand-held hair dryer or heat tape to thaw the area. If this does not resolve the issue, contact a licensed plumber.