- Know the location of your water shut-off valve switch and test it regularly.
- Turn off and drain automatic and manual sprinkler systems before first freeze.
- Turn off outdoor faucets and be sure to disconnect hoses from them.
- Winterize unheated or vacant buildings.
- Insulate water pipes that may be vulnerable to the cold or have caused problems before.
- During a Deep Freeze (-5 Degrees and Below): Keep open cabinet doors leading to exposed pipes (such as access doors for sinks), so that household air can warm them.
- If you have an attached garage, keep its doors shut.
- Crack a very slow drip from a faucet furthest from the place where your water enters the house.
- Keep your thermostat set above 65 degrees when leaving your house or business for several days.
- If You Think a Pipe Has Already Frozen: Thaw the pipe as soon as possible or call Justice Plumbing for help.
- If you do it yourself, shut off the water or test the shut-off valve. You do not want water suddenly gushing from the pipe when it thaws.
- Remember: When thawing pipes, slower is better.
- A hair dryer at the frozen area of the pipe is appropriate. A blow torch is not. Pipes warmed too fast may break anyway.
- Frozen Water Pipes: With freezing temperatures there is a good chance that unprotected water pipes will freeze. When this happens, you may experience only the annoyance of interrupted water service until the water in the pipes thaws. Unfortunately, for a few, the water line may rupture and cause property damage and require plumbing repairs.
- There are several preventive measures that can reduce your chances of having your water lines freeze.
- Shut off the outside water valve, disconnect water hoses and drain water from pipes, via an open faucet.
- Allow a trickle of hot and cold water to drip. The cost of the wasted water is small compared to the damage from frozen pipes. CAUTION: Be certain you are not running water into a drain line that is exposed to extreme cold, as that line might freeze as well.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors under sinks to allow heat from the room to circulate around un-insulated pipes.
- Heat unused rooms with plumbing, especially if the plumbing is in a north wall.
- Insulate all pipes in areas where there is no heat, such as the garage or crawl space.
- Apply heat tape or thermostat-controlled heat cables around pipes that are exposed to the weather and prone to freeze. You can purchase a variety of insulating and heating devices to install on both inside and outside plumbing.
- Seal any air leaks around doors and windows to reduce cold air penetration.
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