Don't let winter weather catch you unprepared. The following tips will help you prevent the expense and inconvenience of frozen and broken pipes.
 

• Regularly check your plumbing. Perform preventative maintenance and repair all leaks and seepage.
• Disconnect all garden hoses from outside hose-bib faucets.
• Shut down and drain all lawn-sprinkler systems.
• Know where your (not the Utility's) primary shut-off valve for water is located and how it operates. If you don't have one, consider having a plumber install a stop and drain valve.
• Don't turn off the heat while you're on vacation. Instead, lower the thermostat, but not below 55 degrees.
• Insulate water pipes. Exposed pipes are especially vulnerable to freezing weather. 

VACANT HOMES

If you leave your house for the winter months, take the following steps to protect pipes from freezing:

• Use your home's stop and drain valve to shut off your water.
• Turn off and drain your water heater.
• Open indoor and outdoor faucets to drain pipes (after you have turned the water off).
• Pour motor home-type anti-freeze in your toilet bowl to prevent freezing. Also consider pouring it in shower drains and "P" traps under sinks. 

DID YOU KNOW?
A small crack in a door, window, or wall acts like a blow torch in reverse. At near-zero weather, high winds can freeze a nearby pipe even though the surrounding room temperature may be 70 degrees. Fill holes in doors, windows, and walls near water pipes.
Running brooks and streams freeze during bitter cold weather. Don't be fooled by the myth that leavng the water running overnight will keep pipes from freezing. It won't, and it's expensive. Instead, wrap pipes with weather-proof insulation or heat-tape products.

Look for the Underwriters Laboratory seal of approval on any electric products. And, keep in mind, heat-tape products will not function during power outages.

THAWING FROZEN PIPES
Frozen pipes may be thawed by wrapping them with rags and repeatedly pouring hot water over the rags. Once the pipes are thawed, remove the rags and re-wrap the pipes with dry insulation material to prevent re-freezing. If this method is not successful, call a plumber. NEVER USE AN OPEN FLAME OR ELECTRICAL DEVICE TO THAW FROZEN PIPES. Using these methods can cause fire or electric shock.

WATER EMERGENCY SERVICE 
Water Services maintains the water supply system from the mains to the curb stop at your property line. You are responsible for protecting water pipes from freezing and repairing broken pipes on your property. If you lose all water service during a freezing period and still have a problem after taking the suggested emergency measures, call a plumber.

If pipes on your property break, and you are unable to turn off the house shut-off valve, call us at 781-2678. We will turn the water off at the curb.

Because our crews and phone operators are extremely busy during freeze emergencies, their response may not be quick enough to prevent property damage caused by flooding (which is why it's so important to have your own shut-off valve). If you call for assistance, please be aware we may be fielding hundreds of calls. We'll address your concerns as fast as possible.