Keep Water Flowing, Protect your pipes this winter

Before a freeze:



Wrap all exposed pipes located outside or in

unheated areas of your home, including the

attic.

Remove garden hoses from outside faucets.

Insulate those faucets with hard foam covers

or wrap with cloth or paper.

Cover vents around the foundation of your

home.

Learn where your private water cut-off valves

are and how to operate them.



In sub-freezing weather:



Let hot and cold water drip slowly from inside

faucets during a freeze.

Open cabinet doors under sinks on outside

walls.



If you’re not going to be home:



Turn off water at your private valve and drain

all outside water faucets if your house will be

unoccupied for several days.

Or leave your home heating system on a low

setting. Otherwise, you may return home

from a holiday trip and find your carpet and

furniture soaked because your pipes burst.



Where to find your private water cut-off

valve:



Most of the time, private water cut-off valves

can be found near an outside faucet and

close to your home. However, homeowners

who have had a sprinkler system installed

may find their private cut-off near the sprinkler

system valves, which are usually close to

the property line.

Many older homes have what is known as a

“stop and waste” valve buried in the ground.

A quarter-inch piece of iron with a 90-degree

angle in it protrudes from the buried valves

and serves as a handle. It looks like an

upside down “L” turning the handle will stop

the water flow to your home and drain the

pipes.