Freezing Weather Tips
How to protect your plumbing during freezing weather
When the temperature outside falls below 32 degrees Fahrenheit:
- Allow an outside faucet to drip slightly.
- Insulate all exposed pipes and enclose crawl spaces.
- Plug up drafty cracks and repair broken window panes.
- Remove hoses from outside faucets and be sure they are drained and shut off.
- Know how to turn off your water at the shut-off valve in case of an emergency.
- Keep meter box lids closed to prevent cold air from freezing at the water meter.
Take these precautions if you go out of town during freezing weather:
- (1) Turn off your water at the main valve or at the meter.
- (2) Turn off your hot water heater at the electric breaker panel.
- (3) Open a couple of faucets in the house to allow water sitting in the pipes to expand if the outside temperature is freezing.
Don't forget to protect your irrigation system’s backflow preventer with an
insulated cover! Installing an insulated enclosure over the assembly or turning the
water off at the meter and draining the assembly in freezing weather is recommended.
Wrapping the assembly with installation is not recommended because it will prevent
access to test cocks, check valves and relief valve.
There are several types of covers you can get from irrigation and landscape supply
stores that will provide freezing weather protection.
