Preventing Frozen Pipes

When the temperature and/or wind chill drops below zero the water pipes located in side of your strata lot may freeze.  Owners should prepare by;

  • Disconnecting garden hoses and if possible shut off and drain the water to the outside pipes
  • Keep your thermostat in your unit no lower than 12°C
  • If you are planning to be away, shut off the water and ask a friend or neighbor to check on your unit regularly to make sure the temperature is warm enough to prevent freezing
  • Even if you’ve taken the right preventative steps, extreme weather conditions can still harm your pipes.  You may wish to take the following steps
  • A trickle of hot and cold water from a facet, preferably on an outside wall can prevent pipes from freezing
  • Keep the thermostat set at the same temperature during the night and day.  Temperatures usually drop more in the night time so turning your thermostat down when you go to bed can catch you off guard.
  • Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to un-insulated pipes under sinks and appliance near exterior walls.
  • Here’s what you can do to thaw frozen pipes before they burst
  • If you turn on the facet and nothing comes out, leave the tap on and call a plumber
  • You may be able to thaw a frozen with warm air from a hair dryer.  Start by warming the pipe as close to the faucets as possible working your way to the coldest section.
  •  If the pipes have already burst, turn off the water at the main shut off valve and leave the faucets turned on.  Make sure everyone in your unit knows how to shut off the water.

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