Freezing Weather Tips – Water and Sanitation

When temperatures drop below freezing, exposed water pipes and fixtures in your home or business are at risk of freezing. Frozen pipes can lead to costly property damage. Below are some tips to help you protect your plumbing.

Flowing water is less likely to freeze so, let an indoor faucet drip overnight. If you have a two-story home, let a faucet on the first floor drip.
Insulate all exposed pipes and enclose crawl spaces.
Disconnect hoses from outdoor spigots, make sure they are drained and shut off. It’s also a good idea to insulate the spigot with a cover.
Repair broken window panes and plug drafty cracks.
Make sure your meter box lid is closed to prevent cold air from freezing the water meter.
Know where your home’s water shut-off valve is and how to turn it off in case of an emergency. If you need help finding your valve, click here.
Also, don’t forget about your irrigation system backflow preventer! Protect it with an insulated cover.

Going out of Town during Freezing Weather?

Turn off your hot water heater at the electric breaker panel.
Turn of your water at the water meter or shut-off valve.
Open a few faucets in your home to allow water sitting in the pipes to expand.