During our cold winters, some City residences can be at risk for frozen water pipes inside or outside the home. Most water service pipes are buried two metres below ground to protect against frost; however, extremely cold weather or fluctuations in temperature can result in frost pushing deeper into the ground and freezing pipes.
What you can do
Here are steps you can take to reduce the risk of frozen water pipes:
- If water piping inside your home is inside cupboards next to exterior walls, keep cupboard doors open to allow warmer air to circulate around pipes
- Do not set your furnace lower than 55 degrees F (~13 degrees C) at night, or when the house is vacant
- In the fall, close and drain any pipes leading to outside faucets
- Wrap foam pipe insulation around pipes most susceptible to freezing, such as pipes near outside walls, in crawlspaces, or in attics
- Seal air leaks in homes and garages
- If you will be away for a long time, close off your main service valve in your basement and open all taps to allow pipes to drain, and have someone check your home regularly
- When renovating, do not leave plumbing in contact with the exterior wall of the basement. Whenever possible, insulation and vapour barriers should be placed between the exterior wall and the plumbing to prevent freezing. If this is not possible, consider leaving the plumbing exposed.
- Remember to heat your crawlspace and close all vents for the winter months. For chronic freezing issues in crawlspaces, you can install heat trace cable, secured to water lines and wrapped in insulation.
- Think about the location of your underground water service pipe when removing snow or planning landscaping or driveway work. Snow provides natural insulation to prevent frost from deeply penetrating the ground. When a water service line is directly under a driveway or an area where the snow is removed or compacted, the water service pipe is more likely to freeze.
Have frozen pipes in the past?
If your home has had frozen water services in the past, and the part that froze was on City property, we may advise you to leave a cold-water tap running slightly if frost depths are deeper than normal. We will adjust your water bill to consider this. If the freezing was located on private property, any extra cost is the property owner’s responsibility.
Experiencing a frozen water service this winter?
If you suspect you have a frozen water service pipe now, please call the City Dispatchers at 625-2195. The City maintains an inventory of equipment to thaw out frozen water pipes and will respond as soon as possible.
Please read our handout:
How the City Provides Support: Suspected Frozen Water Service (PDF)