Protect your home and pipes from the cold weather.

Protect your home and pipes from the cold weather.

Before your pipes freeze, disconnect the garden hoses and turn off the outside faucets.  To find the faucet turn off, following the outside pipe to where it enters your home and find a knob or turn off.  Once it’s off, turn the outside faucet to open to drain any water.     Good luck and Stay Warm.  If your pipes have frozen, see below on how to defrost them safely.

If Your Water Pipes Freeze…… Open the cold-water faucet nearest the frozen pipe to relieve the pressure of expanding ice that may cause a pipe to burst.

Thawing a Frozen Pipe…… Be careful! Gentle heat from a light bulb, hairdryer on warm setting or heat tape is good. If the pipe is already cracked from freezing, as the water thaws, it may begin to spray out risking danger of electrocution if it sprays the appliance you are using for thawing. Do Not Use an “Open Flame” to thaw your pipes.

Cold Weather Plumbing Tips Help Prevent Your Water Pipes from Freezing!

• Seal all air leaks that may let an icy blast reach your pipes. Keep the wind out. Insulate pipes well in unheated areas.
• Keep the water meter box lid closed to prevent the meter from freezing. Report broken or missing lids to the Water Utility Department.
• If you plan an extended vacation during cold weather, call a plumber to have the water turned off at the meter. Then, you may choose to drain your water pipes, turn off the water heater and other water using devices, to give your pipes extra protection from freezing.
• It is recommended to drain in-ground lawn sprinkler systems. Check manufacturer’s instructions for the best way to do this.

Find Your Main Water Cut-off Valve….. Look for this now! Imagine the panic, if water was pouring through the house from a broken pipe. Locate the main water cut-off valve, mark it, and make sure everyone in the house knows where it is. If you are unable to find the shut-off valve, and you have water leaking from a broken pipe, call your local plumber but if you know where the shut off is NOW before an issue It could save you thousands in damages.

Here are some tips and things to consider if you feel you may have a frozen water pipe.

• Is the flow of water interrupted over the entire building, or just one location? If it is just one location, find out if and where the pipes are running through an outside wall. It is possible to have just one frozen pipe. If the entire building has no water then it is possible that the water meter and/or the private water service line to the building is frozen.
• If your water meter is located in a finished area of your basement, check to be sure that the water meter has been properly insulated and has protection from freezing during winter months.
• Do your water (including sprinkler) pipes run through an attic? Lack of insulation between the roof and ceilings can cause pipes to freeze.
• Do your water pipes run through your garage? Pipes wrapped in heat tape can freeze if the heat tape wears out. The heat tape can burn out like a light bulb, but you may not be aware of this until the pipes freeze. Be sure to check your heat tape to be sure it is functioning properly before the winter months arrive.

Potent shut off switches you may find in your home.  Protect your home and pipes from the cold weather.