Winter has arrived early on the Palouse with lows in the teens and strong winds making those already cold temperatures feel downright frigid. Besides the inconvenience of not having water when it is expected, Tenants may be held responsible for repair costs if frozen pipes burst due to their negligence.

Here are some tips for helping to avoid frozen pipes:

1) Reduce the amount of pressure that can build up in the pipe. This step includes removing any hoses, timers, or other attachments connected to your exterior faucets. For interior fixtures that are either on exterior walls or prone to freezing, slightly open the faucet to allow a very slow drip. Allowing a very slow drip (out of both hot and cold faucets if needed) will reduce pipe pressure and help to prevent ice build-ups.
2) Keep pipes warm. Allow heat to reach the pipes by opening up sink cabinets during cold days and nights. Prevent heat loss by closing any gaps in the foundation/crawl space that would allow cold air to enter. Insulating your pipes with sleeves or wraps is also a cheap and effective way to help lower the chances of freezing.
3) Make preparations for when you are leaving the house for an extended period of time. Along with reducing system pressure and opening up sink cabinets, further actions are recommended for times when a home will be vacant. Firstly, the best course of action would be to drain the system so no water is sitting in the pipes. This can be done by shutting off the main water valve (generally located at the water meter) and turn on every faucet (both hot and cold) in the home until no more water comes out. You can then shut all faucets before you leave and turn on the water main when you return. Otherwise, maintain the minimum temperature of the home around 50 degrees and ensure sink cabinets are left open.

What do do if your pipes are frozen:

1) Open up the faucets to relieve any pressure. You may be able to unfreeze pipes with a hand held hair dryer, starting at the faucet end and working along the way. As temperatures increase during the day, the pipes may thaw on their own. Either of these processes may take a few hours and are not guaranteed to be successful. You may still want to call a plumber to be safe.
2) Inspect underneath all sink cabinets and exterior walls for any signs of large water from a burst pipe
2) If a water line bursts, shut off the main water shut-off valve and leave all faucets open. Call a plumber ASAP.