Tips on Preventing Winter Freezing

• Don’t let your outdoor faucets freeze up in the winter:
  
  
• Un-attach your garden hoses before freezing temperatures arrive in the fall.
  
  
• Close the shut-off valve on the pipe(s) which lead to your outdoor faucet(s), then open the outdoor faucets so that any residual water can drain.
  
  
• If your indoor faucets sometimes freeze in very cold weather, try leaving the cabinet doors under the faucets open so that they can get a bit more heat. In extreme cases let the water trickle very slowly into the sink.
  
  
• Insulate water pipes which may be exposed to freezing temperatures or wind.
  
  
• Water pipes which are not being used should be drained for the winter in areas where there may be severely cold weather.
  
  
• If there is plumbing in your garage, be sure to keep your garage door closed when it is very cold. Pipes in unheated garages or basements should be insulated.
  
  
• If your pipes do freeze:
  
  
  • Turn off the water at the main shut-off valve so that you don't have problems as the ice melts.
    
    
  • Leave the faucets on to relieve pressure as the ice melts.
    
    
  • Use a blow dryer or heat gun to thaw frozen pipes.
    
    
  • Don’t even think about using a blow torch! It's too dangerous.
    
    

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