WINTER FREEZE CHECKLIST
Use the following checklist to protect your home from
below freezing overnight temperatures. Inside water lines
of unoccupied parttime and full-time residents will freeze
if not winterized properly. This can result in ruptured
pipelines and major water damage. Please reference Plumbing
Diagram below.
1. Shut off House Stop and Drain Valve -
Make sure the valve is completely shut off. This will
turn off the water supply and will drain the house
water system. Generally, a stop and drain valve is
located on the service line on your side of the meter
near the house. Mark your stop and drain valve with
a wooden stake. In heavy snow, the stake will identify
the buried valves. Every home should be equipped with
a stop and drain valve.
2 & 3. Flush Toilets and Open All Faucets,
Including All Hose Bibs - This should remove
water from the coldwater pipes. Open your hot water
drain valve, usually located at the low point of
your hot water pipes. If you choose to drain your
hot water tank, turn off the gas or electric supply
to the heater. Pour biodegradable anti-freeze into
all sinks and toilet bowls to displace water in
the drain traps. Many homeowners choose to turn
off their faucets after they have been drained.
4. Shut Off and Drain Outside Sprinkler System -
Some systems automatically drain when shut off. Others
have a separate stop and drain valve.
Put Stop and Drain Valve Turn-Off Key Where
It Can Be Easily Located in Case of Emergency
If Stop and Drain Valve is Locked Up,
pour warm (NOT HOT) cooking oil down onto valve. Let
sit 15 to 20 minutes to loosen.
Alternatives
Instead of draining your home’s water system,
you may heat the home adequately to avoid pipe freeze
up. However, leaving your heat at 45 to 55 degrees does
NOT always ensure that the pipes will not freeze when
the temperatures drop during extremely cold weather conditions.
Winter storms may also cause power outages which will
affect some heating systems causing frozen pipes. Please
wrap all exposed, unprotected pipes in your home water
system with water pipe insulation which can be purchased
at a hardware store or building supply center.
Plumbing Diagram
