FORD, Va. — Ask any expert and they will tell you, it is a good idea to let water drip from your faucet on a freezing cold night. Doing so will help prevent your water pipes from bursting. But Jamie VanCleef, owner of Tire and Auto Service in Ford, Virginia, said letting the water drip could lead to another problem. VanCleef said he let the water drip in his work sink last weekend as temperatures plunged. When he went back to work Monday morning, he was greeted with an unusual sight in his sink.
“I went in to wash my hands and I went to grab for the faucet and saw the icicle. The water froze all the way back into the pipe. The would not turn,” he said. “Out in the country, our temperatures drops a few degrees colder than in cities like Petersburg and Richmond.”
VanCleef said while had seen similar icicles on outdoor faucets, this was the first time he’d seen one on an indoor faucet. With record-breaking cold headed back to the region Thursday, Friday and Saturday, VanCleef said he planned to drip the water again, but with a twist.
“I am going to need to put a heat lamp on it and check it regularly,” he said.
Again, just so we’re clear. It IS a good idea to let water drip from your faucet during freezing cold night.
