How to prevent and fix frozen pipes

Preventing frozen pipes

• Insulate pipes, especially those close to outside walls, attics or crawl spaces where the chance of freezing is greatest.
• Seal air leaks surrounding or near pipes.
• Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
• Disconnect all outdoor hoses and turn off water to exterior faucets and sprinkler systems.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.
• Keep heat at 55 degrees F or higher even when you are out of town.
• During a cold spell turn on both hot and cold faucets near outside walls to allow a small trickle of water to run during the night.
• If you need to be away from home, leave the heat on and drain your water system before you go.
• Identify the locations of shutoff valves so that you are prepared to stop the flow of water as soon as possible when a pipe bursts.

What to do if pipes freeze

• Open all faucets.
• Remove insulation and wrap pipes in rags.
• If all else fails, call your plumber.

What to do if pipes burst

• Shut off the water immediately to prevent additional damage.
• Take proper precautions to avoid an electrical shock from being in or near standing water.
• Take an inventory of any damaged property or possessions.
• Contact a vendor specializing in emergency water mitigation services that can properly dry out the damaged area.