Each winter we receive numerous calls to repair or replace broken and frozen exterior backflow preventers, landscape irrigation pipes and vacuum breakers due to expansion and contraction of dissimilar materials caused by freezing or sub-freezing temperatures.
Some simple, do-it-yourself, protective measures may prevent a visit by your friendly and sometimes expensive technician.
- Turn off outside faucets, disconnect your garden hose and put it in your garage
- Cover your exterior hose bibs (outside faucets) with styrofoam covers available at your local home centers for less than $5.00. You can also cover the hose bibs with a small piece of insulation, cardboard, a towel or small blanket wrapped with duct tape, in an emergency.
- Your landscape irrigation system has an exposed vacuum breaker in your yard. Because this device is metal and it transitions to P.V.C. plastic pipe, it must be covered during freezing temperatures.
- Draining your irrigation lines and turning off the water source can prevent expansion and broken water pipes.
- If your pipes freeze, thaw lines safely using hair dryers or electric lamps - never use an open flame or torch.
- Do not open the water meter box at the curb. Opening the box could increase the chance of freezing the flowing water at the meter.