Archive for 2012

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Home in North Dakota floods from pipe burst

Monday, December 31st, 2012

A home in Fargo, North Dakota, recently flooded after a pipe burst in an upstairs bathroom, according to local NBC affiliate KVLY. The homeowners were away and although they left the heat turned on, the system broke and caused a pipe to burst.

Assistant Fargo Fire Chief Larry Schuh said the frigid air caused the toilet tank to freeze, expand and crack, causing the flood. He said this serves as a reminder to residents to leave their heat on and shut off their water if they are away for extended periods of time. The fire department told the source that water may have been leaking for several days. Firefighters had to clean up the ceiling that collapsed – including the sheetrock and insulation that fell with it – and vacuum up the water.

Families who are leaving for extended periods of time can prevent frozen pipes by setting the thermostat to no lower than 55 degrees and asking someone to check the house daily to make sure it's warm enough to prevent freezing pipes. They should also shut off and drain the water system and deactivate any sprinkler systems.

Posted in Infrared Leak Detection, Leak Detection Industry, Plumbing Information, Water Infrastructure News | No Comments »

North Carolina couple sues city for sewer problems

Monday, December 31st, 2012

Daniel and Sherry Jones of New Bern, North Carolina, have filed a lawsuit against the city for sewer problems that affected their home, the Sun Journal reported. According to the source, sewage flowed into the Jones' home, damaging their personal belongings and forcing them to relocate for several months while repairs were underway. The Jones' claim that the city was negligent about sewer maintenance, and put off repairing the deteriorating the pipes for far too long.

The Jones' lawsuit states that the sewage caused damage to their appliances, flooring, furniture and home. It also states that the sewer problems caused the couple emotional stress, health risks and embarrassment. The Jones' are suing New Bern for more than $10,000 in damages.

The city is fighting the lawsuit. According to the city's statement, the Jones' were responsible for issues because they allowed their own sewer lines to become clogged, which in turn caused the backup. However, the sewage came from more than one place – it seeped into the couple's yard, came into the home through pipes, and damaged multiple spots within the home.

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Owners of older homes, mobile homes should take precautions against frozen pipes

Monday, December 31st, 2012

Owners of older homes or mobile homes should be especially cautious of frozen pipes this winter, since pipes can burst and cause thousands of dollars in damage.

Frozen pipes in older homes are common because many of these structures were originally built with less insulation and may have undergone many changes over the years. When people add insulation to their homes, sometimes they only focus on the inside walls, cutting off heat to pipes in exterior walls. Homeowners sometimes like to remodel which can result in cutting off warm air to pipes with the addition of cabinets or doors. Other causes of frozen pipes might be older furnaces that run on a pilot flame that can be blown out by winds. When the flame goes out, the furnace stops working and pipes can become too cold.

Owners of mobile homes are susceptible to frozen pipes because of the pipes' placement. Residents should check for any holes or missing panels around the residence that may expose plumbing to cold air.

Homeowners should also be aware of the type of plumbing that is in their home. Galvanized steel pipes burst the most often, while plastic supply pipes can withstand freezing temperatures with ease. Copper pipes tend to swell, but will not burst as easily.

Residents who want to decrease their chances of frozen pipes should hire a professional to insulate and check for any problem areas. People who are leaving their homes for several days can take several precautions against pipe bursts. These include having someone visit their home to check for problems or turning off the water supply. When the it is off and a pipe bursts, only a few gallons of water will leak out, instead of thousands of gallons.  

Posted in Water Conservation News, Water Infrastructure News | No Comments »

Save money by conserving electricity, energy

Monday, December 31st, 2012

Residents who are interested in saving money on their utility bills should consider using appliances and water during off-peak hours.

The cost of electricity can vary throughout the day due to its demand, so depending on when energy is used, consumers may be charged different rates. Typically, off-peak hours are during early mornings, nights, weekdays and holidays. For even more affordability, consumers should avoid using high-impact appliances during on-peak hours. Examples of these include electric heat, an electric water heater, a heated spa, hot tub or pool and other large appliances or tools that run on electricity. Plugging these devices into a power strip and turning it off during peak hours is also a good way to conserve electricity. People should check with their utility companies to see what they consider to be off-peak hours and if they will be charged less during these times.

Homeowners should also consider reducing heat loss to save money and energy. This can be done by simply adding insulation to outside walls and replacing single-pane windows with double-pane or energy efficient ones. People can make sure they are taking the most energy-efficient measures by hiring a professional to conduct an infrared leak detection test, which measures heat loss and indicates where there is poor insulation.

Posted in Heat Conservation, Infrared Leak Detection, Leak Detection Industry | No Comments »

Austin takes precautions to prevent freezing pipes

Friday, December 28th, 2012

The Lone Star State received bouts of chilly weather this December, forcing the city of Austin to activate a cold weather shelter plan, according to NBC affiliate KXAN. The Austin area was under a freeze warning from December 10-11, and the chilly temperatures have continued well into the holiday season. Many residents are concerned over the state of the area's pipes, because Austin typically enjoys a temperate climate.

Austin Water told NPR affiliate KUT News that it hasn't seen any major increase in frozen pipes or pipe breaks during the current cold spell. A water main broke on December 26 in the north central portion of the city, but the event doesn't appear to be temperature-related. Many authorities are concerned, but the city is prepared to take the necessary precautions to prevent freezing pipes.

"Worst case scenario, we could see a lot of water main breaks because of the cold snap," utility spokesman Jason Hill told KUT. "We're not seeing that right now so we’re pretty confident that we’ll be able to make it through this winter without any major casualties. But, just in case, we are poised to respond to do whatever we need to do to make sure that we don’t have water outages to our customers during these winter months."

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