Unfortunately I don't have running water right now. The problem is we can't tell if our pipes are frozen or if they've cracked and, if cracked, where those cracks are! Sadly we're unlikely to find out until temperatures rise and those pipes begin to thaw. So I'm currently trying not to completely stress out about it.
Dano Pagel, a plumber with 35 years experience, has these words of advice.
Try to find the main valve to shut off water to their home, although that might be difficult if the valve is outside and covered in snow. Pagel said a lot of people will try to heat pipes with a blow dryer or electric heater. Some might find that water does begin to flow (not at my house though).
Once it's safe again to travel, plumbers are braced for a deluge of calls about sudden leaks as the water in pipes begins to thaw and leak through cracks. (Nightmare!)
As of Monday afternoon, SAWS hadn’t experienced any water or sewer line breaks, a spokesman said. If residents are without water, it’s because of problems within their own homes. But, if you are experiencing problems with your water pressure, that could be a SAWS thing: it's likely due to the rolling blackouts affecting water pumps.
If your water is still running in your home, Pagel recommends turning on all faucets that connect to pipes that connect through the outer walls of the home. There should be a steady stream of water running through the faucet, he said, because running water requires much lower temperatures to freeze.
(MySA) Photo: Getty/BanksPhotos