Each year cold weather causes water pipes in people’s homes to freeze and sometimes burst. These problems are not only inconvenient, but also expensive to repair. Following these simple precautions may prevent the inconvenience and cost of water damage as a result of frozen water lines.
BEFORE THE FREEZE
Locate the Shutoff Valve If pipes burst, water could begin to pour into your house, and time would be critical in preventing damage to walls, floors, or carpet. The most likely locations for the shutoff valve are:
- Where the water supply enters your home
- Near your clothes washer hookup
- Near your water heater
Try turning this valve off and on in advance to make sure you’ve found the right one. Mark it with paint, a tag, or a ribbon and make sure everyone in the family knows where it is. If you are unable to locate your shutoff valve, you may want to contact your builder or plumber for assistance.
Eliminate Drafts and Insulate
Wind blowing through cracks or openings to your house will cause freezing more quickly than cold temperature alone:
- Keep basement, garage doors, and windows near your water pipes closed during cold weather.
- Seal air leaks or cracks in the crawl space or basement. Air vents should be closed or covered from the inside.
- Pipes in unheated parts of the house should be insulated. Wet insulation is worse than no insulation, so be sure to replace any you find.
Outside Faucet
- Disconnect and drain garden hoses, then store them in a garage or shed. Do the same for rain barrels.
- When a separate shutoff is installed, outside faucets should be drained.
Meter Protection
Check your meter box to make sure the cover is not displaced, broken, or missing. These types of problems will allow meters to freeze. Any of these conditions should be reported to your water utility.
DURING THE FREEZE
Low temperatures, wind, and the duration of freezing weather are all factors in freeze ups. When temperatures are predicted to be in the teens or below, you may wish to leave a trickle of water running from a faucet at the highest level in your house. This trickle should be about the size of the lead in a pencil. You’ll only waste money if you leave the faucet fully open.
If Pipes Freeze…
If the weather is especially severe, your pipes may freeze despite your precautions. If you decide to thaw pipes yourself, BE CAREFUL! The pipe may be cracked, and water may come out full force. This is especially dangerous if you use electrical appliances, such as hair dryers, lights, etc., to thaw the pipe. Even if a pipe isn’t cracked, too much heat may cause it to burst. And NEVER, NEVER, NEVER thaw your pipes with an open flame!
If ALL the faucets in your home stop working, it’s possible that your water meter has frozen. Call your water utility’s customer service number to report this. They’ll send someone out to check it, and if the meter is frozen, they’ll take care of it. Just remember, you own the water line between the meter and your home. If a freeze occurs there, it’s your responsibility.
So what are you waiting for? Get started on protecting your pipes today!
Blog post contributed by askHRgreen.org expert Lori Woolman, Water Resources Coordinator with Newport News Waterworks.