When temperatures drop, your pipes are at a high risk to freeze & burst.  During extreme cold, Public Works recommends a few common sense measures to keep pipes warm & water running: 

  • Keep garage doors closed to prevent loss of heat, especially if you have water supply lines in the garage.
  • Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.
  • Let cold-water drip from faucets served by exposed pipes.
  • Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature day & night.
  • If you plan to be away during cold weather, leave on heat setting temperature no lower than 55° F.
  • Purchase pipe insulation & wrap pipes.
  • For the long term, add insulation to attics, basements, & crawl spaces.  Insulation will maintain higher temperatures in those areas. 
  • If you have a water meter behind a panel in the wall, open the panel so the meter can get heat, or it can freeze and cause water damage.