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Frigid Forecast for Lehigh Valley
Tips to avoid frozen pipes and water meters.
Allentown, PA – February 8, 2021 – It is 5:30 a.m. Monday morning and your alarm clock rings loudly, signaling it is time to start the week. You pause for a moment, thinking about how warm and toasty you are under the covers. In your head you think, if I can just get to the hot shower it will wake me up and I can get moving. You make your way to the bathroom as you wipe the sleep from your eyes, reach into the tub to turn on the hot water to warm it up before stepping in. You turn the lever to hot, but there is no water. Frantically you move the lever to the cold setting, but still no water. In disbelief you turn the lever off and on, then off and on again. No water! Suddenly you snap into a different mood and now you are stressed at the thought of being late for work. You quickly head to the basement to investigate, finding what you thought could be the dreaded reality. Some of your pipes and the water meter are frozen solid.
The national weather service has predicted a frigid week for the Lehigh Valley. Temperatures will not rise much above freezing, and at night will dip into the teens. When temperatures take a dip is when frozen pipes and damaged water meters can cause disruptions, frustration, and extra expenses. Suddenly you may have no water, need time off from work, and there will be the extra expenses to fix the damage and pay for a new water meter.
Although Lehigh County Authority (LCA) owns the water meter, customers are responsible for protecting the meter from freezing and other damage. If the meter freezes and breaks, the property owner will pay a replacement cost of approximately $325.00, depending on the meter size, plus a $50 site visit fee for LCA to remove the old meter and install a new one. The site visit fee rises to $150 for after-hours, weekends, and Holidays, helping LCA recover costs for staff overtime and emergency work.
Take steps now to prepare for the colder temperatures, prevent costly repairs and avoid added inconvenience. The first step is knowing where your water meter is located, typically in the basement, or for some older homes, in a basement crawl space. If the area is not insulated, adding insulation to the space will help.
Follow these tips to protect your pipes and water meter:
- Add insulation products made to fit water meters and pipes in a variety of sizes, protecting them from exposure to colder air.
- Shop online or local plumbing supply and buy a water meter “jacket” made to fit the make and model of your meter.
- Make your own meter and pipe insulation with old blankets, rags or newspaper and tape.
- Seal off any drafts or gaps where cold air comes in. Take steps to allow warmer air in.
- Electric heat tape is another solution, and available at most hardware stores.
On the outside of the home:
- Turn off all outside spigots from inside.
- Disconnect hoses from all outdoor faucets.
- Add a foam insulating cover on the outside for additional protection.
If your water meter freezes, thaw it using a hair dryer or a monitored portable heater, but never use open flame. Once the pipes and water meter have been thawed, contact LCA as soon as possible to replace the damaged meter. If the meter is leaking, which is common after freezing, turn off the main water source until help arrives.
There is very clear evidence when a water meter has frozen. The frost plate on the bottom of the meter is designed to expand and break open, which is why the meter will leak. If our investigation concludes the meter is damaged from freezing, the meter replacement cost and a site visit fee will apply. Keep in mind that plumbers and plumbing companies are not authorized to repair or replace LCA water meters.
It is important to take steps now to prevent waking up to no water. For more helpful tips visit our website www.lehighcountyauthoirty.org
About Lehigh County Authority: Lehigh County Authority (LCA) is a public water and wastewater utility committed to providing unparalleled service to residents and businesses. LCA provides water service to more than 55,000 residential and commercial properties throughout Lehigh and Northampton counties, including the City of Allentown, and sewer service to about 35,000 properties, primarily in the City of Allentown. A nonprofit, public agency, LCA was founded in 1966 by the County of Lehigh and is governed by a nine‐member board of directors appointed by the County.
Information provided to TVL by:
Susan Sampson
Communications Manager
Lehigh County Authority
www.lehighcountyauthority.org
