City of Arcadia, Wisconsin

Don't Let Cold Weather Catch You Unprepared!

Keep the Heat In and the Cold Out!

As we all know, our winters can get pretty frigid here in West Central Wisconsin. This can have an effect on your water meters and water pipes inside your home. The Arcadia Water Utility Department is urging homes, apartments and business owners to protect their internal water systems from the possibility of freezing. Freezing weather can cause serious damage to your interior water system including your pipes and meter and very costly water damage to the interior of your home or business if your pipes should burst or crack. Besides the inconvenience, the damage to the structures, pipes and meters from freezing can be very expensive to repair and are the owner's responsibility.

Homeowners, renters, landlords and business owners are encouraged to make sure that areas of the buildings where water pipes and meters are located are protected from the cold and properly heated. Make sure basement doors and windows are closed tightly and that heat is allowed to flow freely around water meters. Heat should be kept at around 50 degrees in basements or wherever pipes and water meters are located.

Vacant properties need more attention during the winter months. Again, it is very important to keep heat in the property, including the basement, garages and crawl spaces. Any unoccupied building should be checked regularly. This eliminates the potential for broken pipes, property damage and high bills.

Properties that are to be vacant for a longer period of time should have the water service turned off, the meter removes and fixtures winterized.

A reminder that any damage to the structures, pipes, water meter (the meter is the property of the Arcadia Water Utility) and any water damage to the interior of your home or business due to the freezing of your internal water system will be the responsibility of the owner including the cost to replace the water meter. Take precautions before hand to prevent costly bills.

Please contact the Arcadia Water Utility Department for any concerns of winterization of buildings or to report vacant buildings during the winter months at 608-323-3359.

Cold Weather Notice- Spanish Version

Tips for Winter

• Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses. Detaching a hose allows water to drain from the faucet.
• Insulate water pipes, faucets and inside water meters that are located in unheated basements, garages, crawl spaces or drafty areas.
• Seal off access doors and cracks. Close all windows near water pipes and cover or close open-air vents. Winter winds whistling through overlooked openings can quickly freeze exposed water pipes.
• Drain all underground irrigation systems.
• Leave cabinet doors under sinks open to allow heat to enter the area especially if located on outside walls.
• Keep your thermostat set to at least 50 degrees or higher, even when you are away during freezing weather.
• Find your master shutoff. If a pipe bursts anywhere in your house - kitchen, bath, basement, crawl space etc. - this valve turns it off. Be sure everyone in the family knows where it is and what it does.
• If you have a problem area in your home or business in severe cold weather, you may want to allow a faucet to drip a small continuous stream of water to keep water in the pipes moving. Notice: you will be charged for the water you run on your monthly utility bill which would be significantly less than the cost of the hassle or damage that frozen water pipes may cause. Please contact the Arcadia Water Utility if you decide to run water in your home or business to prevent freezing pipes at 608-323-3452.