State Farm® Reminds New Mexico Residents to be Careful Using Space Heaters and Dealing with Frozen Pipes
Albuquerque, NM, February 3, 2011 – As New Mexico residents are experiencing natural gas disruptions, State Farm® is providing the following reminders below.
“The public’s safety is our number one concern,” says State Farm Spokeswoman Angela Thorpe. “Now is the time to exercise caution and vigilance as New Mexicans are weathering the natural gas emergency.”
Alternative Heating Sources
- All heating elements should have a safety guard.
- The unit should include an automatic safety switch that will turn off the appliance if it is accidentally tipped over.
- Turn off all space heaters when leaving the room.
- Never use gasoline in a kerosene unit. Use only what the manufacturer recommends.
- Kerosene heaters should only be used in a well-ventilated area away from flames or other heat sources.
Avoiding Frozen Pipes
- Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to piping under sinks and vanities near exterior walls.
- Run a small trickle of water at vulnerable cold and hot faucets.
- If you’re planning on leaving your home to find warm shelter, shut off the water at the main line, run a faucet to drain the line and relieve the pressure. Be aware that if you have a fire protection sprinkler system in your house, it will be deactivated when you shut off the water.
- If you suspect your pipes are at further risk of freezing, contact a professional to winterize your home.
- Never use an open flame torch to thaw your pipes.
- Don’t take chances. If you turn on your faucets and nothing comes out, leave the faucets turned on and call a plumber. If you detect that your water pipes have frozen and burst, turn off the water at the main shut-off valve in the house; leave the water faucets turned on. (Make sure everyone in your family knows where the water shut-off valve is and how to open and close it.)
- Never try to thaw a pipe with a torch or other open flame. Water damage is preferable to burning down your house. You may be able to thaw a frozen pipe with the warm air from a hair dryer. Start by warming the pipe as close to the faucet as possible, working toward the coldest section of pipe. Do not use electrical appliances in areas of standing water because you could be electrocuted.
Contact
Angela Thorpe State Farm Insurance, (303) 264-1560
About State Farm®
State Farm insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm’s 17,700 agents and 68,600 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts – more than 78.7 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.9 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 31 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca®.
