STEPS TO PREVENT FROZEN PIPES
- Make sure both hot and cold pipes are dripping slowly
- Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to insulated areas
- Do not set thermostat below 55 degrees
- Keep doors ajar between heated and unheated rooms
- Have your heating system checked and serviced
Going away for a period of time?
- Shut off and drain your system. This may disable a home sprinkler system.
- Contact your local water department to have water shut off at the street. There may be a service call fee, but it will prevent your house from flooding if a pipe bursts from the street to the house.
- Ask a neighbor or friend to check house daily.
Long-term solutions
- Insulate pipes in your home's crawl space or attic
- Seal leaks that allow cold air to enter
- Mark water shut off valves ahead of time
IF YOUR PIPES FREEZE
- If no water comes out of faucets, leave open and call a plumber
- If your pipes freeze, shut off water at main shut-off valve
THAWING OUT FROZEN PIPES
Shut off water at main shut-off and open faucet nearest to frozen pipes so it can drain as it thaws.
- Never use a torch or open flame to thaw a pipe.
- Caution: Do not use electrical appliances in areas of water due to possible electric shock hazard.
Do
- Use the warm air from a hair dryer, starting as close to the faucet as possible
- Wrap the length of pipe with a heating pad
- Use a heat lamp (keep at least eight inches away from the surface)
- Wrap pipe in rags and pour boiling water on it
- Once the pipes are clear, turn off all faucets and check for leaks in the pipes.