1. Insulate any exposed piping and close any openings, vents, or windows into a crawl space or basement. Commercially available pipe insulation or several wrappings of newspaper can be used to insulate pipes. Remember, that outside hose connections are especially vulnerable. Plumbing companies also offer heat tape for plumbing if pipes have been especially vulnerable to freezing in cold weather.

2. Locate the master valve in your home. It is usually located just inside homes or business building foundations where pipes enter a crawl space or basement. The master valve can be turned off if pipes break so that water damage does not occur. If pipes burst, Wichita Water Utilities will shut off water at residential meters if requested. Call 265-1300 or 262-6000 for assistance. However, during extremely cold weather when the department may be handling a high volume of calls, shutting off water may take several hours.

Never thaw a frozen pipe with an open flame. This can cause a fire or damage the pipe connections and fittings. If water service is lost, call Wichita Water Utilities for assistance in locating the source of the problem. Please be patient. In previous years, Wichita Water Utilities has had as many as 500 calls a day during periods of extremely cold weather.

Wichita Water Utilities does not recommend leaving water running because it is wasteful. However, if residents must leave water running to prevent pipes from freezing, the stream of water should be no larger than the size of a pencil lead (about 1/8 of an inch).

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