Strategies To Prevent Frozen Water Pipes In Your Home
It is inconvenient to be without water service. This inconvenience can be compounded during the winter months if your water meter or pipes have frozen. Plumbing repairs and property damage caused by frozen pipes bursting can be both widespread and expensive. You can avoid these problems by taking preventative measures to protect your plumbing before and after the onset of freezing weather.

• Eliminate Drafts
  Take measures to prevent the flow of cold air into your basement or crawl space. Make sure that basement vents are closed and windows and doors create a tight seal. Repair broken glass in basement windows, and seal cracks in basement and crawl space masonry walls. Protect outside pipes and spigots, and wrap all pipes that are in unheated areas. Do not try to insulate meter boxes; these attempts will increase the risk of freezing and slow the thawing process.
  
  
• Expose Pipes to Warm Air
  In heated buildings, during freezing weather, you can open cupboard doors in the kitchen and bathroom to get additional heat to water lines in those areas.
  
  
• Let It Run
  When it is very cold (10 degrees or less) let cold water run in a fast drip from a bathroom and/or kitchen faucet. This movement of water through your system can keep your pipes and plumbing fixtures from freezing.
  
  
• Turn Water Off at Master Valve
  If your home is without heat or if you are going to be gone an extended length of time, it is advisable that you turn your water off at the master valve and drain the plumbing and service line. Do not forget to turn off the water heater. If you can't find the master valve, or if the valve does not work call 785-368-3111, M-F, 7AM-6PM, and a field representative will come out and turn the service off at the meter box.

If Your Pipes Freeze...

• Before starting the thawing process, locate your master valve and be prepared to turn it off. The line you are thawing may already be broken, cracked or split. Water could come gushing out once the line thaws.
  
  
• Thaw lines safely by using a hair dryer! With the dryer on a low heat setting, wave the warm air back and forth along the line. It's a slow but safe process.
  
  
• Don't use an open flame to thaw frozen lines. Open flames can be a fire hazard and overheating a single spot can burst the pipe

If your Pipes Break...
Shut off the water at the master valve (meter box customer’s valve if the service line is broken) and turn off the water heater! If you can't find the master valve, or if the valve does not work and water is leaking in the house, call 785-368-3111, 24/7 and a field representative will come out and turn the service off until repairs can be made.

If You Can't Thaw The Lines...
If none of your faucets or fixtures are working and you cannot determine where the lines are frozen, your service line may be frozen. Call 785-368-3111, 24/7 and a field representative will come out and turn the service off until repairs can be made. Do not try to thaw your water meter. Our field representative will help you to determine if the City service line or your service line is frozen.