To protect your home from frozen pipes:
1 If you leave your home during the winter months, turn off the main valve
to your water supply and drain your faucets.
2 Disconnect all garden hoses and wrap all outdoor faucets with some type
of insulating material. Cover the insulation with plastic to keep out
moisture.
3 Cover foundation vent holes to keep your crawl space warmer.
4 Insulate any exposed pipes. Use heat tape if necessary.
5 During extended periods of freezing temperatures, keep a trickle
of water running from your indoor faucets to keep pipes from freezing.
A small trickle
may cost a few extra cents but will save you a large expense of frozen
or broken pipes. You may also want to keep cabinet doors open under
sinks to
allow warm air to circulate around pipes and drains.
6 If you are going to be away from your home for a few days, keep
your heating system turned on to a low temperature so that some heat
is available to keep
pipes from freezing.
If your pipes do freeze:
1 Turn off the main water supply at the valve. If the pipe is broken,
turning the water off will reduce the amount of damage that may occur
as the pipe
thaws. When you're without water, you should also turn off your water
heater to prevent damage to it.
2 If you know where the frozen pipe is and it's easily accessible,
you may want to try to thaw it yourself. Some helpful tip are: pouring
hot water
on the pipe, using an electric hair dryer, or heat lamp. Do not use
a propane torch or any other type of open flame.
3 If you cannot find the frozen pipe or thaw it yourself, your best
bet is to call a plumber.
