Water Department

Helpful tips to keep your pipes from freezing from FamilyHandyMan.com

Long-term freeze prevention is usually a major project, like insulating a crawl space, replacing standard outdoor faucets with frost-proof models or even rerouting pipes away from cold spots inside the home.

Exposed water lines can be insulated. Your local building supply company will have insulation designed for pipes. You may also want to consider installing an electric heat cable which can provide good protection during cold spells. A thermostat switches on the heat only when the temperature drops, so heat cable won’t waste electricity when it isn’t needed. But if you need to protect lots of pipes for long periods, heat cable is an expensive solution.

Temporary steps to prevent freezing pipes

The first sign of ice forming in pipes is reduced flow at faucets. So, if the flow slows to trickle during a cold snap, or if you suspect your pipes are vulnerable, take-action. Here are a few things you can do:

• Turn up the heat.
•  Set up fans to blow heat into cold rooms.
•  Open vanity or cabinet doors so warm air can reach the pipes under sinks.
•  If you have exposed pipes inside closets or pantries, leave doors open.
•  Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor faucets. Even “frostproof” faucets can burst if a hose is connected.
• Keep the garage door closed.
•  If you have reduced water flow, heat the most vulnerable pipes (usually in basements and crawl spaces or near exterior walls) with a hair dryer. Leave the faucet on while you apply heat. As you melt ice, the flow will increase.