Newsletter

1/1/08

Winter Parking Reminder

During the winter months, Village staff works hard to make sure that streets remain passable throughout the season. This translates to mean that we need to “plow back” to the curb the snow on the streets. Cars must be moved regularly so that we are able to do this consistently and uniformly. Therefore, please remember that, when snowfall exceeds two inches, between the hours of 1:00 am and 6:00 am, vehicles shall be parked only on even numbered sides of the streets on those nights with an even calendar date, and on odd numbered sides of streets on those nights with an odd numbered calendar date.

Year-round, in ALL weather conditions, no vehicle may remain parked on the street for more than 48 hours; cars parked in the right-of-way must be moved every 48 hours or they will be ticketed. During winter months when snowfall accumulates, if you park on the street, it is especially important to move your car frequently so that snow does not pile up when we plow around it. Once temperatures begin to rise, we also must be able to keep catch basins open so that melting snow can drain away. We cannot do this if cars are in the way.

So, when the snow flies, get a shovel and volunteer to help your friends and relatives dig out so they will return the favor and help you.

When Winter Conditions Become Severe

If the weather looks ominous and you are concerned about worsening winter road conditions, it is always best to err on the side of care, watch television for weather updates, and check the South Charleston website, or specific local weather details.

From the Water Department

If you have not done so already, take steps now to prepare your plumbing --outside and inside -- for freezing weather. Know what to do during freezing weather and if your pipesfreeze or break.

Outside plumbing

  • If your meter is outside in a pit, pack fiberglass insulation around it and make sure the pit is not standing full of water.
  • Caulk around pipes where they enter the house.Close all foundation vents -- open foundation vents are probably the greatest cause of frozen or split water lines. Cut wood or styrofoam blocks to fit vent openings, then slidethem into the vents. Styrofoam is available at hardware stores or from insulation suppliers. Open the vents again in the spring to prevent dry rot.
  • If your meter is in a crawl space under your house or in the basement, put insulation around the meter to further protect it from icy drafts.
  • Protect outside pipes and faucets. In some homes, the outside faucet has a separate shut-off in the basement. If you have a separate valve for outside faucets, shut if off. Then go outside and turn on all the faucets to drain water in the lines. Leave the outside faucets on while you go back and check your outside shut-off valve for a small brass plug or cap on the valve. Turn this plug far enough that water drains from the valve. Then, tighten the plug back and turn off all the outside faucets.
  • Wrap outside faucets or hose bibs. Do this if you don't have a separate valve to turn off outside faucets. Also remember to disconnect garden hoses. Use newspaper or rags covered with plastic, fiberglass or molded foam insulating covers to wrap the faucet. Molded foam insulating covers are available at plumbing and hardware stores.
  • Drain in-ground sprinkler systems. Check manufacturer's instructions for the best way to do this.

Inside Plumbing

  • Insulate pipes in unheated areas such as the crawl space, attic, garage or basement. Use insulating tape or molded pipe sleeve and wrap it over the entire length of exposed pipe. Cover all valves, pipe-fittings, etc., with insulating tape or fiberglass. Check your hardware store for supplies.
  • Shut off and drain your water system if you are leaving home for an extended period of time. Turn off the water heater before draining the system. Leaving your furnace on a low setting while you're gone helps, but may not prevent freezing. Turn off the main shut-off valve, then go through the house and turn on all faucets, sinks, tubs, showers, etc., and flush the toilets. Go back to the valve and remove the plug so that it can drain completely. Follow-up by re-tightening the valve and turning off the open faucets.
  • Open cupboard doors in the kitchen and bathrooms. Water lines supplying the kitchen or bathrooms are frequently located in outside walls. Any air leaks in siding or insulation can cause these pipes to freeze. Leaving the cupboard doors open when the temperature is below freezing allows pipes behind the cupboards to get more heat.
  • Let the water run if the temperature dips below freezing. A stream slightly smaller than a pencil width should be sufficient. Faucets farthest from the street should be the ones left running. Using cold water will save on your gas or electric bill.

What To Do If Your Water Line Freezes

  • Identify where the line is frozen.
  • Inside the house or building or
  • from the water main to the house or building.
  • Step 1
  • Open a kitchen or bathroom faucet. If there is no water from the hot side, but the cold side has water or visa versa, this normally means a pipe is frozen right under the kitchen or bathroom sink.
  • Open the cabinet doors so heat can get to the pipes.
  • A hair dryer can be used to provide additional heat.
  • Never use an open flame.
  • Step 2
  • If there is water in one part of the house, but not another, the pipes supplying water are frozen someplace inside the house, under the kitchen or bathroom cabinets, in the crawl space, under the trailer or in the basement.
  • Determine which pipes are frozen and get heat to them immediately. Never use a torch or open flame of any kind.
  • Step 3
  • No water anywhere in your house:
  • Go to the place where the water service from the Village water main enters your home.
  • Check to see if the entrance valve turns freely.
  • If it does, shut it off.
  • Loosen one of the brass nuts at the end of the water meter.
  • Turn on the entrance valve.
  • If water leaks from this fitting, the water service from the Village water main to the house is not frozen.
  • Shut off the entrance valve, tighten the brass nut that you loosened.
  • Step 4
  • Look for any place above the water meter where cold air can blow on the water line.
  • Is any part of the water line boxed in or behind a basement wall.
  • If you have checked everything and no water leaks from the brass nut you loosened on the end of the water meter, you probably have a frozen water service from the Village water main to your house.
  • Step 5 -- Call a Plumber
  • Frozen Water Service
  • It is recommended you call a plumber who offers a thawing service using either a steam or hot water thawing system.
  • Thawing is done by feeding a tube through the water service usually from inside the building out toward the water main.
  • Broken pipes in the home may also be repaired by the homeowner.

Have you had problems with your meter or pipes freezing before? You can do one or more of the following:

  • Box in the meter and water supply line. Keep a light bulb lit in the boxed in area for heat.
  • Heat tape the water pipes and meter. Be sure not to let the heat tape touch the plastic face of the meter.
  • Let a trickle of water run from a faucet to keep water moving through the line. This water does go through the water meter and you will be charged for it just as if you were using it for any other purpose.

A Reminder:

You have 30 days to pay your water & sewer bill before a late charge of $10 is added. Fifteen days after that, if your bill is not paid in full, your water will be shut off. If you think you will have difficulty paying your bill in one payment, we encourage you to begin making payments immediately upon receipt of the bill so that it can be paid in full by the 15th of the month following the month in which you received the bill.

Christmas Tree Disposal

Once again, the Village will remove and chip any Christmas tree left curbside after the Holidays. We chip Tuesday, January 2, through Friday, January 5. The rules for disposing of your trees are similar to those for disposing of unwanted yard waste: Trees must be absolutely clean. The Village will leave the tree at the curb and hold the property owner responsible for disposal if the tree has tinsel, lights, or decorations of any kind remaining on them.

  1. Leave trees at the edge of the street or curb, preferably near your driveway, if you have one.
  2. No trash or furniture.
  3. No yard clean-up.

Please call Town Hall at 462-7167 if you have questions.