Cold Weather Tips

Before cold weather hits

Know the location of your water shut-off valve and test it quarterly.

If a pipe breaks, you won't want to have to find it then or, worse, wait for someone to arrive at your place to find it for you. In most single-family homes, the shut-off valve is in the basement or the crawl space, on a wall facing the street.

Keep your meter pit and curb stop valve accessible.

If you cannot operate your shut-off valve inside the building, you may need to have your plumber isolate the valve or Town Employee via the meter pit or curb stop. By having your curb stop and meter pit accessible town employees can shut off the water in case of emergency.

Turn off and drain automatic and manual sprinkler systems before first freeze.

You'll thank yourself in the spring. The alternate freezing and thawing of water in the system can create cracks and weak spots, triggering silent underground leaks or mini-geysers.

Turn off outdoor faucets and be sure to disconnect hoses from them.

Make sure the faucet and the outside portion of the pipes are fully drained. A valve inside many houses will shut off the water's flow; then open and close the tap outside to release any water in the pipe. Disconnect the hose to ensure that freeze-proof faucets will drain and to avoid damage to the hose from freezing water.

Winterize unheated or vacant buildings.

Significant property damage and water loss can occur before burst pipes are discovered in vacant buildings. If your vacant building has a fire protection system, make sure there is no danger that the water servicing this system might freeze.

Insulate water pipes that may be vulnerable to the cold or have caused problems before.

Pipes close to exterior walls or in unheated basements can be wrapped with pieces of insulation. Don't overlook pipes near windows, which can quickly freeze. For particularly difficult pipes, consult a professional on how to select and apply heat tape. Pay special attention to indoor water meters Caution: Improper use of heat tape can cause fires. Never put heat tape on the water meter to avoid damaging plastic components of the meter.