When the temperatures drop, water pipes can freeze and burst causing a water emergency. The Northwestern Water and Sewer District (the District) wants all homeowners to know how to protect plumbing from the extreme cold and what to do if your waterlines freeze.
Prepare before it gets cold:
•Locate and tag the water shutoff valve, it is usually in the lower level of the home, close to where the water line enters a house as a connection point. Everyone in the house should know how to turn it off in case of emergency.
•Turn off the water to outside faucets, remove hoses and drain the pipes.
•Cover any open vents inside the home with insulation, plastic or cardboard.
•Open cabinet doors on colder nights to let warm air reach the pipes.
•Keep the temperature where water meters and interior pipes are located at least 55 degrees.
•Let kitchen or bathroom faucets drip slowly on very cold nights to prevent the water from freezing.
•Store water for the household in advance—the general rule is to store oneto- two gallons per person, per day, for at least three days. Pet owners should take animals into account when preparing the water supply.
What to do if a pipe freezes:
•Shut off the water right away. Don’t try to thaw frozen pipes unless the water is off. The pipes or joints may have invisible cracks.
•Open the cold and/or hot water faucet nearest to the frozen pipe. This will lower the pressure and reduce the risk of breakage.
•Heat the frozen pipe by warming the air around it, or by applying heat directly to it. A hair dryer, space heater or hot water will help in this process. Don’t leave space heaters unattended.
•Don’t use kerosene heaters or open flames to thaw pipes inside the home.
•After the pipes have thawed, turn the water back on slowly and check for cracks and leaks.
Those leaving for a short time should:
•Ask a trustworthy neighbor to check the property every day.
•Sign up for leak alerts on Aqua Hawk, a free service for District customers that can alert users when water use spikes and allows customers to monitor water use online.
