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<br />$&;:%,$:1 <br />5'19<< p <br />---!+- <br />,;J' <br /> <br />Restore the Utilities <br /> <br />,,~~"f' <br /> <br />Will Your House Be <br />Unheated? <br /> <br />If your house will be unheated for a <br />few days, and the temperature will <br />fall below freezing, you should win. <br />terize your water pipes so they will <br />not freeze and break. A plumber can <br />blowout the pipes to make sure <br />they are empty. Or you can take the <br />following steps to protect your water <br />and sewer system from damage due <br />to freezing temperatures: <br />1. Shut off the main water valve. <br />(It is usually found at the water <br />meter.) <br />2. Turn on all the faucets in the <br />house, both the hot and the cold <br />taps. Leave them on and let them <br />run. <br />3. Turn off the hot water heater. <br />Open the faucet at the bottom of <br />the water heater to drain it. You <br />may want to connect a hose to <br />the faucet so you can control <br />where the water goes. Be careful; <br />the water may be very hot. <br />4. Flush the toilets to empty their <br />water tanks. <br />S. W'ait tor the lowest faucet in the <br />house to stop running. (This will <br />usually be a faucet in the base- <br />ment.) Then check all faucets and <br />toilets. If they have stopped mn- <br />ning or are empty, your water <br />system should be drained. <br />6. Pour some propylene~ <br />glycol-based antifreeze in all sink, <br />tub, and floor drains and in the <br />toilet bowls. (This type of <br />antifreeze is available through <br />recreational vehicle and mobile <br />home dealers. Do not use regu- <br />lar automotive antifreeze.) <br />These drains have traps that keep <br />water in them. <br />7 You can turn the main valve back <br />on after the building is heated. <br />Do this before you start your <br />repairs. That way, if there is a bro- <br />ken pipe, a water leak won't <br />cause much damage. <br /> <br />24 <br /> <br />water still does not smell like <br />chlorine, don't use it for drink- <br />ing or cooking. <br />Do not cook in pots and pans <br />or use eating utensils, baby blan- <br />kets, or any other items that <br />could go in the mouth or be <br />used to cook in until they have <br />been washed and disinfected in <br />water that has been tested and <br />approved by the water supplier <br />or health department. <br /> <br />Wells. Private wells should be <br />pumped until the water is clear. <br />You can decide whether water is <br />clear enough to hose the house <br />and do other cleaning work. <br />Check with the local health <br />department for instructions <br />before you drink or cook with <br />your well water. Their instruc- <br />tions will account for minerals <br />and chemicals in the water in <br />your area. The health depart- <br />ment should be able to advise <br />you about the best way to have <br />your water tested if necessary. <br />If there are no specific <br />instructions from the local <br />health department, follow these <br />steps to purify your well and <br />water: <br />1. Open your faucets to pump <br />the water out of your well. Let <br />them run for at least 15 min- <br />utes or until you lose <br />pressure. <br />2. Pour one quart of liquid chlo- <br />rine bleach (see box, page 26) <br />in the well and leave it for at <br />least 4 hours. Do not use any <br />water during this time. <br />3. Open all the faucets and let <br />them run until you smell chlo- <br />rine at each faucet. <br /> <br />4. rum off the faucets and let <br />the water sit in the pipes for 2 <br />to 4 hours. Do not use any <br />water during this time. <br />5. Plush out the system by run- <br />ning the taps until you can no <br />longer taste or smell the chlo- <br />rine. <br /> <br />Water Heater. Check your <br />water heater. If floodwaters got <br />into the gas burner, electrical <br />parts, or insulation, it should <br />be replaced. If you want to save <br />it, have it cleaned and restarted <br />by a professional. If it was not <br />flooded, be sure to flush clean <br />water through it before you <br />wash dishes or clothes with hot <br />water. <br /> <br />Sewage Disposal <br />Public sewers should work soon <br />after a flood, but mud and <br />debris might clog them. Plush <br />the toilet before you use it. If it <br />is clogged, check with your local <br />sewer department to see if the <br />problem is in the main line. You <br />may need to clean out the sewer <br />line from your house to the <br />main line. <br />Septic systems will not work <br />until the groundwater level is <br />below the distribution lines. So <br />be careful about flushing the toi- <br />let and pouring things down the <br />drain; they may not have any- <br />where to go. Until your toilet <br />works, you can line it with a <br />plastic trash can liner and dis- <br />pose of the bag as necessary. <br />