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Wednesday, December 15, 2021

How to Protect your Pipes this Winter

Cold temperatures can freeze the water in your pipes, causing them to burst and leak.  

How to Protect your Pipes this Winter

 

Why Pipe Freezing is a Problem  

When the temperature drops below 32*F, water in your pipes will expand as it freezes.  This adds pressure against the metal and plastic pipes containing your water, causing them to rupture, break, and leak. The pipes that are most likely to freeze are those that are exposed to severe cold or run against exterior walls that have little or no insulation  such as sprinkler lines, pool supply lines, outdoor garden hoses, and pipes in the basement, garages, or crawl spaces.  

  

Tips to prevent your pipes from freezing this winter.  

  1. Locate your water service shutoff valve. You want to be able to quickly shut off water to minimize damage if a pipe bursts. The shutoff valve is where your water line enters your home. It’s usually in your basement or crawl space.  

  1. Keep cold air out. Repair broken windows, insulate all exterior walls and seal any openings near doors and windows.   

  1. Close and drain valves supplying outdoor faucets and irrigation systems. After shutting off the supply, remove drain caps so there is no water in the line, and detach your garden hoses from the spigot. Contact a local irrigation specialist if you need assistance.   

  1. Insulate exposed pipes. Styrofoam pipe insulation is affordable and available at your nearest home improvement store. In a pinch, you can use newspaper or blankets.   

  1. Find the areas of your home that are not protected from cold weather. Check rooms that are not insulated, rooms without access to heat and openings in doors and windows. Basements and rooms open to the elements are most vulnerable to frozen pipes so take steps to protect them  

If you think your water meter is frozen or broken, call 303-658-2500 to schedule an appointment with a water meter technician.  

  

What to do if your pipes freeze:  

  • Check your shutoff valve to make sure it’s working properly and is in the open position. Knowing where your shutoff valve is located is important should you ever experience an unexpected water leak.  

  • Open a faucet closest to the section of frozen pipe. As you thaw the frozen pipe and the water begins to melt, water will run through the pipe and help melt more ice.  

  • After water is shut off, you can warm frozen pipes with a hair dryer, space heater or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. You can also purchase a water heater cable to safely thaw your pipe.  Do not use open flames like a blowtorch and do not leave heaters unattended. Make sure electrical devices do not come into contact with water  

  • Once thawed, turn the water back on and check for leaks. Frozen pipes can cause small cracks in pipes and joints.  

  • Work with a licensed plumber to repair any broken pipes.  

If you think your water meter is frozen or broken, call 303-658-2500 to schedule an appointment with a water meter technician. For more information on pipes leaking, click here: Water Leaks (cityofwestminster.us)  

 

 

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