Customer Care ยป Protect Your Pipes

Winter Weather

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Prevent Frozen Pipes

Being prepared and informed may help you to avoid the messy and often expensive issue of frozen pipes. All types of pipes, when frozen, will build water pressure and can crack. A crack as small as one-eighth of an inch can unleash more than 250 gallons of water a day and cause flooding, high water bills, and serious property damage. Taking the following precautions may help protect your home.

Before Winter Begins

  • Use pipe wraps to protect pipes in unheated areas or anywhere they are exposed to freezing temperatures, especially attics, garages and crawl spaces. Insulated pipe wraps can be purchased at your local home improvement or hardware store. Pro tip: pool noodles work great for this purpose. 
  • Drain and winterize your irrigation system. You may wish to hire a local irrigation company for this service.   
  • Wrap pipes where they are exposed and exit the ground. Protect your backflow valve with an insulated box cover. We encourage you to contact your lawn care professional for this service.

What to Do During Freezing Weather Conditions

When freezing temperatures are in the forecast, these are some quick temporary measures you can take to prepare your home and protect your pipes from freezing.

  • Open kitchen and bathroom cabinets under sinks so warm air can circulate around plumbing. If you have young children in your home, be sure to remove any chemical or cleaning products out of the reach of young children.
  • For indoor sinks, consider turning on some faucets throughout your home to slowly drip both hot and cold water. Capture this water in pitchers or watering cans for reuse if possible.
  • Never let outdoor spigots drip in cold weather. Cold weather will freeze a small drip and freeze the pipe, potentially causing it to burst.
  • Disconnect outside water hoses from spigots. If left connected during freezing temperatures, water in hoses can freeze and expand causing connecting faucets and pipes to burst.

If Your Pipes Freeze or Burst

  • Don't risk it. If nothing comes out when you turn on your faucet, call a local, licensed plumber.  
  • If you think one of your pipes is frozen or has burst, turn off the water at the main shut-off valve in the house. Your shut-off valve is located where the service line enters your home, usually in a garage or closet. 
  • Remember: while we cannot assist you with private plumbing issues, we encourage you to maintain a relationship with a local, licensed plumber who can assist you with plumbing issues on your private property.