There's a cold front coming: How to protect your pipes from freezing during winter storms

With freezing temperatures expected this week, the city of Wichita Falls Public Works Department is offering some tips to help keep your home’s pipes from freezing.

When water freezes, it expands so water trapped in pipes when it freezes can cause a pipe to rupture.

Pipes located in unheated interior spaces, such as attics, garages or under cabinets, are especially at risk for freezing.

What to know:A winter storm is headed to the region

For outdoor pipes:

• Disconnect drain and garden hoses from outdoor water faucets.
• Cover outside faucets with an insulating cover.
• If you do not have a faucet cover, you can wrap the faucet in T-shirts or rags, cover with a few plastic bags and secure with duct tape.
• Insulate or heat tape any exposed water piping outdoors.

Inside pipes:

• Insulate any exposed piping under sinks and inside cabinets.
• Seal or caulk any cracks near piping that could allow cold air in, such as near dryer vents or water pipes.
• Keep your garage doors completely closed.
• Open cabinet doors to allow heat from the house to circulate and keep pipes warm.
• Let the faucets drip. Water conservation is still important in Wichita Falls so this should only be done as a last resort.

What to do if your pipes freeze:

• The most obvious sign of frozen pipes is that no water comes out when the faucet is turned on.
• The best thing to do is contact a plumber. They can safely thaw the pipe and repair any ruptures that may have occurred.
• If a pipe is ruptured and water is entering the house, use the private shutoff valve to turn off the water. If you do not have a private shutoff valve, or cannot find it, call the City of Wichita Falls Utility Collections Division or the Water Distribution offices for an Emergency Turn Off at the meter. Utility Collections is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Their number is 940-761-7414.

Water Distribution business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and their number is 940-761-4333. You can also call this number afterhours and on weekends.

There is a $30 charge for emergency shut-off service that will be added to your next month’s utility bill. There is not a fee from the city to turn the water back on after an emergency shut-off.