GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — As an Arctic blast brings the coldest weather to West Michigan in years, many people have been preparing ahead of time to protect their home.
Pipes can freeze when they’re exposed to temperatures below freezing, particularly over an extended time like this week. It can cost a fortune in repairs, especially if they burst and leak water through your home.
Dozens of customers came into Great Lakes Ace Hardware on Michigan Street in Grand Rapids Sunday to buy heat tape, an electrical cable that prevents pipes from freezing. Many others bought ice melt to clear their driveway and sidewalks.
The store’s general manager, Aaron Rayborn, said the store typically sees more customers seeking items like heat tape after the worst of the cold stretch.
“It’s usually after the fact,” he said. “When it’s before, they never know what’s going to happen until it’s broke. We usually see it just after the main freeze.”
This year has been different.
“They’ve had that situation that’s happened before, like maybe a year or two ago,” he said. “Now they’ve kind of learned and they’re coming in a little more preemptively.”
Heat tape, which generally costs at least $30, is wrapped around pipes and turns on when it gets below freezing.
“It’s supposed to be a preventative maintenance kind of thing,” Rayborn said. “But if it is totally frozen, you can use them as a last resort.”
Rayborn said the hardware shop generally buys enough heat tape in bulk for the entire year.
“This winter season has been fairly mild,” he said. “We’ve been getting an inch here an inch there of snow, but this is the first real cold weather we’ve had.”
If your pipes do burst, ACE provides a service that can fix them. A technician will generally come out the next day.
The hardware store also sells power generators and portable heaters. Rayborn said it’s important to make sure you use a generator outside or in a well-ventilated area.
“Carbon monoxide can be a silent killer,” he said. “That exhaust comes out of there ferociously; Before you know it, you can get headaches, feel sleepy and it’s not a good sign.”
The Electrical Safety Foundation recommends making sure your portable heater is plugged directly into a wall outlet. Keep it on a level, flat surface. Never leave it unattended and keep it away from flammable objects.
