Pipe Bursts in Tiverton Home, Former Fire Station

Tiverton fire crews responded to a report of a burst pipe Monday afternoon along Main Road in Tiverton. 

Fire Chief Robert Lloyd says a pipe burst in a residential home Monday around 2 p.m. The residence, located at 1449 Main Road, is now a private, residential dwelling, but was once a fire station. 

"A pipe broke inside the home and there's some damage," Lloyd said. "We had to shut the water off." 

Burst pipes become a common occurrence after a deep freeze and sudden warmup, which occurred in many Rhode Island communities Monday. 

"It's when you have the warmup that this comes up. You don't find the breaks until it warms up," said the fire chief. 

The American Red Cross offers the following tips to prevent pipes from freezing: 

Prevent frozen pipes

• Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage or in walls adjacent to 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 temperature is very low outside, let the cold water drip from faucets served by exposed pipes or pipes in exterior walls. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing because the temperature of the water running through it is above 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 55ºF.