Frozen Pipes Bulletin #20: Update on City services and support for citizens and businesses with frozen water pipes

Released: March 28, 2014 at 4:06 p.m.
Considerations for residents with temporary hose line connections or who have been advised to run one cold tap, and who may be travelling or away from their homes or businesses

Winnipeg, MB - City of Winnipeg officials today provided some considerations for residents who may be traveling or otherwise away from their properties in the coming weeks, particularly for those whose properties have been advised to proactively run a cold water tap continuously to prevent an interruption in service, or those who are using a temporary hose line connection with a neighbour.

For those periods of time when a property is unoccupied, considerations relating to frozen pipes can be found below. For other questions and answers, please visit winnipeg.ca/frozenpipes

1. Properties that have been advised by the City to take the preventative measure of running one cold water tap at a trickle continuously to prevent the City's portion of the water pipe from freezing

  • Check your property insurance policy for the requirements regarding monitoring your property in your absence.
  • If you shut the tap off, there is an increased risk of a frozen water pipe. If this happens, you would need to contact 311 so that the City can arrange for a temporary hose line installation if possible, and put your property on the list for thawing service.

2. Properties with a City-installed temporary hose line because their water pipe is frozen

  • If you choose to leave the hose connected and a tap running at a trickle continuously, check your property insurance policy for the requirements regarding monitoring your property in your absence.
  • If you decide to turn off the tap on the outside of your building, remove and drain the temporary hose. Advise your neighbour of your actions so that they can turn off their outside tap and determine any other steps they may need to take.
  • When you return, contact 311 to have the temporary hose line re-installed.

3. Properties with a City-installed temporary hose line to supply water to a neighbour with a frozen water pipe

  • If your neighbour (with the frozen pipe) is going away and turns off the outside tap on their building, disconnect the hose and turn off the outside tap on your building to prevent the tap and related plumbing from freezing.
  • If you have been advised that the City's portion of the water pipe is at an increased risk of freezing, you would need to start running a tap at a trickle continuously as a preventative measure. If your property is going to be unoccupied and you choose to leave a tap running continuously, check your property insurance policy for the requirements regarding monitoring your property in your absence.

This winter there has been a sudden and dramatic increase in frozen water pipes due to prolonged periods of frigid temperatures and deeper-than-usual frost penetration into the ground. This is the second coldest winter in 75 years and the frost is currently at an average of about seven to eight feet deep below pavement surfaces.

For more information about frozen pipes, please visit winnipeg.ca/frozenpipes

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