Frozen Pipes

Wrap Your Tap

Don’t let cold weather catch you unprepared.  Every winter there are homeowners who face the expense and inconvenience of frozen water pipes.  Taking a few precautions before winter hits, can help you avoid this problem.

Disconnect & Drain Outdoor Hoses

Detaching the hose allows water to drain from the Faucet. Otherwise, a single hard, overnight freeze can burst either the faucet or the pipe it’s connected to.

Insulate Exposed Pipes & Faucets

Outdoor faucets, pipes and pipes in unheated attics, garages and crawl spaces are most vulnerable to freezing. Hardware and building supply stores have good pipe and faucet insulation materials available. In a pinch, wrap pipes and outdoor faucets with a thick layer of newspaper or rags and cover with plastic. You can insulate your water meter by pouring soil around it, just be sure to leave the lid of the meter exposed so CWD meter readers can still read it.

Find the Master Meter Shutoff Valve

Be sure everyone in the family knows where it is and how to turn it off. If a pipe bursts anywhere in the house - kitchen, bath, basement or crawl space - this valve will need to be turned off.

Frozen Pipes

Have your plumber’s telephone number handy! If you want to try thawing the pipes yourself, wrap the frozen section with rags or towels and pour hot water over it. NEVER under any circumstances use a torch with an open flame! Besides the danger of catching the surrounding area on fire, the excessive heat can cause your pipes to burst.

Broken Pipes

As soon as it is thawed, water may come gushing out. So shut off the master shutoff valve before you start thawing the pipes to minimize the damage.

Power Outages

Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning - During a power outage, never use kerosene heaters, generators, grills, or other gasoline-, propane-, or charcoal-burning devices inside your home, garage, or carport or near doors, windows, or vents. They produce carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless gas that kills more than 500 Americans each year. If your home is damaged, stay with friends or family or in a shelter.