A reader and a convenience store employee should be thanked for today’s edition of The News Courier after the lower floor of our Green Street office was thoroughly cleansed early Sunday by gushing water from a broken pipe in a storage room.

A reader buying a paper on Sunday noticed water running underneath the front door. The reader then relayed that information to an employee at the Mapco convenience store on Jefferson Street. The employee then posted this message to The News Courier’s Facebook.

We sincerely thank the reader and the Mapco employee for letting us know.

The News Courier’s burst pipe wasn’t the only one reported over the weekend, however. City of Athens Communications Coordinator Holly Hollman said 15 to 20 homes and businesses called Athens Utilities to report frozen pipes.

If that weren’t enough, an increased demand for heat led to power outages around Limestone County. A circuit problem caused an outage in Ardmore, while about 1,700 lost power in East Limestone. Sporadic outages were also reported between Athens and Elkmont.

Hollman said all power Athens Utilities outages were restored as of Sunday afternoon.

Pipe protection

According to State Farm Insurance, the average insurance claim for water damage from frozen pipes is about $15,000. And while temperatures are expected to hover into the mid-60s by mid-week, it’s safe to say subfreezing temperatures will come calling again before the winter season ends.

The following preventative tips from the American Red Cross may help protect your pipes during the next cold snap:

• Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage;

• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children;

• When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe — even at a trickle — helps prevent pipes from freezing;

• Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst;

• If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.

To thaw frozen pipes

• If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Likely places for frozen pipes include against exterior walls or where your water service enters your home through the foundation;

• Keep the faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen area. Running water through the pipe will help melt ice in the pipe;

• Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame device;

• Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. If you are unable to locate the frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you can not thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber; and

• Check all other faucets in your home to find out if you have additional frozen pipes. If one pipe freezes, others may freeze, too.

Future protection

• Consider relocating exposed pipes to provide increased protection from freezing;

• Pipes can be relocated by a professional if the home is remodeled;

• Add insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces. Insulation will maintain higher temperatures in these areas; and

• For more information, please contact a licensed plumber or building professional.