Cold causes water problems across area

December 16, 2009 In Joliet, firefighters battled flames that broke out in a home, but the bitter cold and wind hampered their efforts to put out the blaze at Hickory and Bridge streets.

In Crest Hill, emergency crews worked through the night to repair a ruptured water main on Larkin Avenue. Ice was forming rapidly as the water flowed into the street.

And officials with the Chicago suburb of Skokie say they want to remind residents about potential frozen pipes during winter weather.

The village's public works department says that frozen pipes usually happen when cold outside air leaks into a home, when homeowners lower their thermostats to less than 55 degrees or when pipes in crawl spaces or attics aren't properly insulated.

Village officials say homeowners can prevent frozen pipes by continuously letting water trickle from faucets and sealing leaks around doors and windows to reduce drafts. They say residents also can open kitchen and bathroom cabinets to allow air to circulate and wrap interior piping with insulation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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