Staff report



THOMASVILLE — With temperatures expected to be well below freezing for the rest of this week and into the weekend, City of Thomasville Utilities is encouraging its customers to take precautions to protect themselves and their property.

When water pipes freeze and break, property damage may occur and water service may have to be shut off while repairs are made, according to a staff news release.

To protect property from water damage resulting from burst water pipes, the city recommends that customers take several precautions.

Mike Atkinson, director of water, gas and sewer operations, said the sub-freezing temperatures often cause disruption of service for customers who don’t take necessary precautions to protect their pipes from freezing.

“Nearly every winter we have customers who must shut off their water service for repairs after frozen pipes burst,” he said in the news release. “We encourage our customers to take these cold weather precautions to protect their property.”

In addition to tips for water customers, electric and natural gas customers are encouraged to set their heating thermostats accurately in order to conserve energy and reduce heating costs.

The recommended daytime indoor heating temperature is 68 degrees while the recommended nighttime setting is 65 degrees.

Customers with electric heat pumps should make sure their thermostats are not accidentally set to “Emergency Heat” since operating costs are significantly higher in the that mode.

The Thomasville Fire Department also offered fire safety tips for customers using supplemental heating during the cold snap.

“Extra care should also be taken if customers are using supplemental heating such as space heaters, kerosene heaters, or fireplaces to protect against fire danger,” Fire Chief Bryan Croft said in the news release.

He also offered tips to homeowners using supplemental heating (see box).

Croft said the tip regarding smoke detectors is the most important.

“At no cost to Thomasville citizens, the fire department will test — and replace, if necessary — your existing smoke detector or will install a smoke detector for you if you don’t have one in your home,” he said.

For more information, call the city at 227-7001 or Thomasville Fire Rescue at 227-7015.





Water Pipes Protection Tips

• when the temperature drops below freezing, run all water faucets at a thin stream;

• use insulating materials to cover pipes in exposed or unheated areas, particularly outdoor pipes:

• insulate or cover exposed backflow prevention devices on fire lines and irrigation systems;

• drain and remove all outdoor hoses;

• caulk around pipes where they enter the house;

• shut off and drain in-ground sprinkler systems;

• know where your water shut offs are just in case pipes freeze.



Supplemental Heating Tips

• make sure all combustible materials, such as drapes or chairs, are at least three feet away from any heating unit;

• avoid using flammable liquids to start fireplaces, and never leave a fireplace unattended;

• plug electric-powered space heaters directly into an outlet with sufficient capacity and never into an extension cord;

• check smoke detectors to make sure they are working properly.