The winter chill is taking hold, and more arctic air is forecast to arrive this weekend. The City of Tallahassee urges citizens to take precautions ahead of this impending cold snap.

To avoid water pipes breaking due to frigid air, utility customers are advised to run at least one faucet in their home or business at a thin stream. This allows water to flow through the pipes and lowers the risk of broken water lines during freezing conditions.

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Unlike other liquids, water expands when it freezes. When water pipes freeze, the expanding water can break the pipe, and customers can be left with a thoroughly soaked house when the pipes thaw.

When freezing temperatures loom, citizens might see water trickling out of spigots in area parks and public spaces. This is part of the City’s cold-weather plan to prevent or minimize issues caused by the cold. Signs should be posted nearby when this occurs, but if you see water running lightly from a pipe when arctic air threatens, please do not turn it off. This is intentional.

During periods of colder weather, City Utilities, as well as local plumbing contractors, typically receive calls from customers reporting broken water pipes. When pipes break between the water meter and the home or within the home, the customer is responsible for repairs.

City Utilities repairs any damage to pipes between the water main under the street and the meter or in the main itself, which rarely happens since water runs continuously in the mains.

The City offers these additional tips when temperatures dip extremely low:

The City of Tallahassee wants to ensure all residents know what to do when the forecast calls for a hard freeze or other inclement weather conditions. Customers can call 850-891-4968 for utility service needs or report service issues via the City’s free DigiTally app.

Stay weather aware with information from the National Weather Service at Weather.gov/tae or Twitter.com/NWSTallahassee.

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