For Immediate Release
Friday, February 5, 2021
Avoid Frozen Pipes
The severe cold winter weather is here again, and some Village of Skokie residences and businesses have previously experienced frozen water services during bitterly cold winter weather. When water services become frozen, it often results in the unavailability of water to a home or building for days or a longer period of time.
Residents are advised to take all necessary precautions to prevent their water services from freezing. Precautions include reducing drafts in basements and crawl spaces, keeping areas sufficiently heated, keeping open cabinet doors in the kitchen and bathrooms and allowing one faucet on the premises to run slowly on a continual basis during cold spells, making sure that the drain is unobstructed to prevent overflow.
A sign that your interior piping may be frozen is evident when there is a reduced trickle of water from your faucet. Do NOT attempt to thaw a frozen pipe yourself using an open flame, but contact a qualified plumbing contractor to do the work.
Homeowners are reminded that they are responsible for their water service line up to and including the shut-off box and all household interior plumbing. The Public Works Department can assist in providing a list of qualified plumbing firms. Public Works can be contacted at 847/933-8427.