As we head into winter and holiday travel, The City of Calgary wants you to take preventive steps to ensure your pipes don’t freeze. Frozen pipes can burst leading to water damage and service outages. It is important to take preventive actions in the event the temperatures drop while you are away.
The City of Calgary’s Frozen Pipes Prevention Program works actively with homes considered higher risk due to factors such as location, depth and configuration of water pipes or a history of freezing. However, recent trends show that frozen pipes affect lower risk properties, too.
Calgarians can take the following steps to prevent frozen pipes at home:
- Maintain indoor temperatures: Keep your thermostat at a minimum of 15°C, even when away.
- Have someone check on your property when away: Refer to your home insurance for the frequency they require.
- Eliminate drafts: Seal cold drafts in unheated areas such as basements, crawl spaces and garages.
- Insulate pipes: Use pipe insulation in cold areas and repair broken windows or doors to block cold air.
- Open cabinets and doors: Let warm air circulate to exposed pipes in colder areas.
- Drain outdoor lines: Turn off, disconnect and drain water lines to outside faucets, garden hoses, pools and water features.
- Heat maintenance areas: Ensure external hot water tank rooms are adequately heated.
- Keep water flowing: Regularly run water through pipes to reduce freezing risk.
Signs your pipes may be frozen:
- No water, or a reduced flow, from your faucets.
- Frost buildup on internal pipes or the main shut-off valve.
What to do if your pipes freeze:
- Turn off your water main shut-off valve if flooding occurs.
- Carefully try to thaw the affected pipes using safe heating methods such as a hair dryer or hot towels.
- Contact a professional plumber if you’re unsure or need assistance.
- Call 311 for further guidance if water doesn’t resume after thawing attempts.
Visit calgary.ca/frozenpipes for more information on how to keep your water flowing this winter.
