With the potential freezing weather this week, please read the information below to help prepare your household pipes:
Make sure irrigation system is off
Make sure all pipes outside the house are insulated.
Check to see that pipes in unheated parts of your home — including crawl and attic spaces and under cabinets — are insulated.
Check to be sure outside faucet washers are secure.
Keep the lid on the meter box so your meter won't freeze.
Make sure everyone in the household knows where the main water shut-off valve is, in case a pipe breaks and it is necessary to turn the water off in a hurry. Check this valve now to make sure it is working.
If you must leave your house vacant for a long period, turn off your water supply at the gate valve on the resident's side of the meter box and have a plumber do the necessary work to prepare pipes to prevent damage.
During prolonged freezes, you may want to open all cabinet doors that contain water pipes to allow heat to enter. You may want to place a lamp in the cabinets so the bulb can keep the area warm, but be certain no flammable materials are near it. Relocate any toxic materials so children and pets cannot get to them if cabinet doors are left open.
Keep extra water drawn up during freezing weather in case a main break or frozen pipe cuts off your water supply.
If you have no water and think it may be because of a frozen pipe, follow these steps:
- Call the Water Department's 24/7 phone number at 817-392-4477 so a representative can be dispatched to see if your meter is frozen. The customer is notified about the outcome of this investigation.
- If the meter is not frozen, the private plumbing is probably frozen at the point where the pipe goes under the house. Check there first.
- If a pipe is frozen, it is safest to call a plumber to handle the problem. The pipe may be cracked and will burst when thawed.
- If an electrical appliance is used to heat the pipe, spraying water from a burst pipe could get onto it, creating the risk of electrocution.
If you suspect a water main is broken, report the location immediately to the Water Department's 24/7 phone number at 817-392-4477. Signs of a broken water main are water running down the street and buckled pavement