Cold Weather Problems - Precautions To Prevent Water Pipes From Freezing

Cold Weather Problems - Precautions To Prevent Water Pipes From Freezing

With below-freezing temperatures in the forecast, a few simple steps can keep you and your family safe and your home's pipes from freezing. Please review the below tips to help minimize the possibility or damage.

• Prepare your pipes in advance. Remove, drain and store garden hoses used outside. If practical, use an inside valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance of freezing pipes just inside your house.

• Properly winterize automatic landscaping sprinkler systems. 

• Check and monitor any exposed pipes in unheated areas such as basements, garages, attics and crawlspaces.

• Locate the main water shut off for your home so that if a pipe bursts, you can shut off the water and minimize damage.

• Open cabinet doors in the kitchen and bathrooms to let heat in and around the plumbing.  Especially important if some of these pipes run up against outside walls. If you open cabinet doors, be sure to remove anything that may pose a safety hazard to children, such as household cleaners.

• Keep any garage doors closed if there are water pipes or supply lines in the garage.  If attached to home and safe, consider opening the door to the garage to allow some home heat to enter the garage. While your heating bill may take a hit, the cost will not compare to costly repairs from water damage.

• DO NOT use kerosene or other fuel fed heating devices in the garage to heat it.

• Let water drip from faucets served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe (even at a dribble) can help prevent pipes from freezing.

• DO NOT use a blow torch, r or any other open flame to try and thaw out potentially frozen pipes!
• Mobile homes are typically more vulnerable to frozen pipes so take proper precautions. 

• Keep the thermostat set to no lower than 55° F during the evening hours or if you will be leaving the home for an extended period of time (day or night).

Please check your elderly neighbors and friends who may need additional assistance to ensure their safety and always have working smoke alarms in your home.

  

Asbury Park Fire Department Overview

The Asbury Park Fire Department is an organization that provides fire suppression and basic life support (BLS) emergency medical services (EMS) to the over 16,000 residents of the City of Asbury Park as well as mutual aid to neighboring jurisdictions. The Asbury Park Fire Department is part of the Monmouth County Mutual Aid Response Plan (MARP), which includes all emergency service agencies in Monmouth County. 

The Asbury Park Fire Department is a fast paced fire and EMS system that operates primarily out of one centrally located firehouse. Fire Headquarters includes 3 basic life support (BLS) transport units; One Engine; One Truck (ladder) Company; a technical rescue apparatus, and the duty Battalion Chief. The second station, located on Monroe Ave, is used as a storage facility that houses two reserve engines, and a BLS transport unit. Suppression units also have BLS capability. In 2018, the department responded to 7,644 fire and EMS incidents that resulted in 10,167 unit responses to handle the incidents.  The department averages 28 unit responses per day.

The department has an operational field strength of 50 members, most of whom are assigned to four rotating shifts and work 24 hours shifts over a 42-hour work week. These suppression units also have BLS intervention capabilities for first responder purposes. The EMS transport units each respond with 2 Firefighter/EMT’s.

The Asbury Park Fire Department also has full access to a modern 5 story “Class A” burn building, a “roof prop”, and an additional “training tower” at the Monmouth County Fire Academy. This training facility is a one of a kind asset that will benefit not only the members of the department but firefighters throughout the county as well.

The city comprises a 1.4 square mile area that includes a downtown central business district, commercial and light industry, residential, high rise, strip mall shopping centers, a state highway, and the New Jersey Coast Rail Line.

The department is organized into three divisions – Administration, Fire and EMS Operations and Code Administration. The Administration Division provides overall policy and administrative oversight and support for the department. The Operations Division oversees day-to-day delivery of emergency services; training and professional development; and emergency medical service programs. The Fire Prevention Division includes fire code administration & plans review; inspections and investigations; life safety education; and, emergency management.

The Asbury Park Fire Department is interested in feedback from the residents of Asbury Park. If you have any questions or comments about the department please email us at: Fire@cityofasburypark.com.

 

Breakdown of Major Incident Types for 2018

MAJOR INCIDENT TYPE	# INCIDENTS	% of TOTAL
Fires	75	0.98%
Overpressure rupture, explosion, overheat - no fire	1	0.01%
Rescue & Emergency Medical Service	5705	74.63%
Hazardous Condition (No Fire)	225	2.94%
Service Call	459	6.00%
Good Intent Call	302	3.95%
False Alarm & False Call	866	11.33%
Severe Weather & Natural Disaster	1	0.01%
Special Incident Type	10	0.13%
TOTAL	7644	100.00%