Since we all have had this experience before, and know the cost, inconvenience, and pure frustration to have our pipes frozen. The City of Calgary buries water pipes 3 meters deep, and at the peak of January cold snap the frost reached 1.7 meters, so no pipes were frozen.
Those that live closer to the river or in older houses have a higher chance of this happening which many Ward 4 communities on the south end of the Ward would fall into given the age of construction.
There are a host of things you can do: find cold drafts and seal them, insulate pipes, keep the heat on to at least 15 degrees, and if you are out of town have a friend come by to turn on the water and let it flow, and open your kitchen and bathroom cupboard to let heat in. These simple things can save you from an expensive problem.
I bring this up because often we get phone calls asking for help. You can call 311, but please note, response times may be delayed due to high volumes. For faster service, you have the option to contact a plumber at your own expense.
Water service is a shared responsibility. While thawing The City of Calgary’s portion of the pipe, they will also attempt to thaw your private property portion of the water pipe to fully restore water to your home. They will not however come into your home, and or take responsibility or any cost.
