Water Department

When outdoor temperatures drop below freezing (32°Fahrenheit) and especially if temperatures fall below zero, you may need to take precautions to protect your water meter and the water pipes inside your home from freezing. Water pipes in basements, unheated crawl spaces and outside walls may be especially susceptible to freezing. Here are some tips to protect yourself against potentially costly plumbing issues.

Protect your water meter — If your water meter is located in an unheated or minimally heated area such as a crawl space or garage, make sure it is properly covered or protected to keep it from freezing. The meter is your responsibility and you are liable for any damage to the meter.

Eliminate drafts — Close crawl space vents and openings. Repair broken or cracked windows. Make sure basement doors close tightly.

Insulate pipes in unheated areas — Wrapping electrical heat tape or insulation around pipes that run through crawl spaces, garages or unheated basements may help prevent freezing. It’s important to remember that both hot and cold water pipes may freeze.

If you turn on the tap on a cold day and no water comes out your pipes may have frozen. Before doing anything you may want to check with your neighbors to find out if they have water. If they are also without water, please call Village of Millerton Water Plant at 518-789-4756 to determine if a water main in your area is shut down for repair. This could be causing the water outage. If there is no repair work being done, or the neighbors have water, you may have a frozen pipe in your house or in the water service line under your yard.

Any damage or repairs to water meters and/or related equipment will be repaired and/or replaced at the property owner’s expense.

Contact information:
(845) 705-5732
highway@villageofmillerton-ny.gov