Page 16 - Greenfield Hill Neighbors

around tHE HousE around tHE HousE

ExpErt Contributor
Frozen Pipes An Underground Photography Showcase

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” – Benjamin Franklin Storage Tank Primer By Lara Hoey

By Christopher Kopley Calling all Greenfield Hill photographers! We’d love to see
By Paul Wypchoski, General Manager, RAPS Plumbing & Heating, Inc.
Guest Contributor pictures of our neighborhood and candids of your life. Send
photos to lhoey@bestversionmedia to be featured in our
magazine! This month’s photos are submitted by Lara Hoey.
Home heating oil storage can present a significant risk to the
value of our property. Remediation of a spill can quickly exceed
budgets. Real estate values can be negatively impacted. Heating
oil is typically stored in either above ground or underground
Each year, pipes freeze in the homes of more than 50 million Keep the faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen storage tanks. Although the Connecticut Department of Energy
families in the United States. Since Connecticut is no stranger to area begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP) does not regulate single
harsh winters, the likelihood of a frozen or burst pipe in your home area. Running water through the pipe will help melt more ice in family storage tanks, they do regulate any spill or release from
is not uncommon. the pipe. that tank or tank system.
A burst water pipe is a home disaster that affects hundreds of If you are unable to locate the frozen area, if the frozen area is not A typical, unprotected steel, underground heating oil storage
CT residents each year. It can be caused by aging pipes and accessible, or if you cannot thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber tank can have a life expectancy of about 15 years according to
expansion from freezing and thawing. immediately. the CTDEEP. After that time, a chance for a leak in the tank can
If a pipe in your home bursts, there are a number of steps to IF YOUR PIPE DOES BURST.. greatly increase. If an underground storage tank must be replaced
immediately take. However, as Benjamin Franklin famously there are some important guidelines to follow:
quipped, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” so If your house or basement is flooding, turn off the water valve and 1. Choose a reputable and experienced contractor registered
your best bet is to try to prevent them from freezing in the first CALL A LICENSED, PROFESSIONAL PLUMBER IMMEDIATELY. If with the Department of Consumer Protection as a Home
place. you cannot locate your shut-off valve, your plumber can help talk Improvement Contractor. Licensed plumbers must complete
you through the process of locating it. If it's heated water that's any installation work. Ask for references.
EASY PREVENTION TIPS: coming from the broken pipe, you should also close the valve
attached to your hot water heater. 2. Check with your local Fire Marshall or Building Department Blue and white weekends
Keep the Heat On officials to determine if any permitting or inspections are
If you are leaving your home for a period of time, keep your heat DO NOT TRY TO THAW A BURST PIPE THAT HAS RESULTED needed. (in Easton the Building Department typically
set at at least 58F. This should provide enough heat to keep the IN FLOODING! THIS COULD CAUSE ELECTROCUTION! manages heating oil tank issues)
pipes warm and to prevent any water inside from freezing. Be sure to check all of the other pipes in your home to be sure
Allow Faucet to Drip further freezing has not occurred. 3. When removing an underground storage tank, at least one
soil sample should be collected from beneath the tank
If you are afraid a pipe will freeze, you can allow the faucet to and piping and analyzed to Extractable Total Petroleum
drip slightly. Allowing the faucet to be open will relieve pressure Hydrocarbons (ETPH). The analysis should be completed by
in the system, as it is the pressure between the blockage and the Paul Wypchoski is the General Manager of RAPS Plumbing, a a Connecticut Department of Health certified laboratory.
faucet that will cause the pipe to burst. Keeping the faucet open professional, family-owned, family-run business, now in its second
will prevent this pressure from building up. generation of ownership. The RAPS staff is a highly-trained, hard-working 4. A brief report including field notes, a description of the work
team of service professionals dedicated to exceeding your expectations. performed, photographs of field activities, laboratory reports,
Keep Interior Doors Open Call RAPS for frozen or burst pipe repair, or for any other plumbing, and specification sheets for the new equipment installed
Pipes are often located in cabinets. When temperatures drop, it’s heating or drain service needs at (203) 254-7277 should be provided at the conclusion of the job.
a good idea to keep these cabinet doors open so that the heat
from the rest of the house can keep the pipes warm as well. You If a leak is apparent, usually via a hole in the tank or breach in the
should also keep all interior doors open so that the heat can flow system lines, the CTDEEP Emergency Response and Spill Division
throughout the home. (860-424-3338) must be notified immediately. The homeowner Winter beach frolick
is responsible for the remediation both on your property as well
Seal Up Cracks and Holes as affected adjacent properties. At this stage, the selection of
Caulk any holes or cracks that exist near pipes in both interior and a qualified permitted remediation contractor is vital so that the
exterior walls. This can help keep the cold air out and the warm STEVIE MIZ CUSTOM WOODWORKING appropriate, cost effective remediation is performed.
air in.
There are many details concerning the removal and replacement
TIPS FOR THAWING FROZEN PIPES: of underground storage tanks and the remediation of affected
Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad soil and groundwater that cannot be summarized here. A good
wrapped around the pipe, electric hair dryer, a portable space source for additional information can be found at: www.ct.gov/
heater (kept away from flammable materials), or by wrapping deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2692&q=322578&deepNav_GID=1652
pipes with towels soaked in hot water.
Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal Cabinetry • Built-Ins • Window Seats • Mantles • Mudrooms Christopher J. Kopley is a Licensed Environmental Professional,
stove or other open flame device. Professional Geologist and Principal at the environmental
Visit my website to view my extensive portfolio of custom-designed projects: consulting firm Advanced Environmental Redevelopment located
Do not let a heating pad, hair dryer, or other electrical device steviemizcustomwoodworking.com
come into contact with water. in Bridgeport. He has over 34 years of environmental consulting
Steve Miserocchi experience focused within Connecticut and New York. He has
Do not leave any heat source unattended at any time. been an Easton resident since 1997.
Ph: (203) 336-6526 • Cell: (203) 610-1468 Apre' holiday folly

16 Greenfield Hill Neighbors January 2018 17