The week has started with freezing cold temperatures in parts of Germany - including the Giessen region. Weather services are forecasting low temperatures of up to 20 degrees Celsius. Stadtwerke Gießen AG (SWG) advises its customers to protect their water meters and pipes in particular from frost.
Tips for protection against the risk of frost
SWG advises keeping windows and doors in basements closed during the frost period or repairing leaking windows and doors. In rooms at risk of frost, homeowners or residents should wrap water meters and water pipes with insulating materials. Water meter shafts outdoors should be covered to protect them from frost, but access to the stopcock and water meter should be possible at all times. If you are going to be absent from rooms with water pipes for several days, ensure that the temperature is regulated - at least +8 degrees Celsius - or drain and switch off the pipe. For garden and yard pipes that have not yet been drained, it is high time to do so. The drain taps should be kept open in winter. If the drain tap is still dripping hours later, the stopcock in the pipe is leaking. In this case, SWG recommends having the damage repaired immediately. Construction water meters on building sites and in new buildings are particularly at risk from frost - strong insulation should be used to prevent damage.
In the event of frozen pipes
If these measures to protect against freezing are not sufficient and the pipes or the water meter are already frozen, a specialist should be called in immediately. Under no circumstances should anyone attempt to thaw the pipes or meters with an open flame or blowtorch.
Further information
Stadtwerke Gießen is therefore asking homeowners and all users of water supply systems to fulfil their duty to take precautions and inspect the systems and check what measures need to be taken against frost. If a water pipe or meter freezes, considerable damage can occur. Callers can obtain more information from Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the service hotline 0180 22 11 100.