Homeowner library · Water supply
Preventing frozen pipes
Frozen pipes are a winter certainty in some Etobicoke homes. Knowing where your vulnerable pipes are, and what to do in a cold snap, prevents most bursts.
- Kitchen on an exterior wall
- Bathroom over a garage
- Crawlspace pipes
- Old outdoor taps
- Licensed, insured trade work (details confirmed when you call)
- Diagnosis before anything is cut
- Emergency calls taken
- Etobicoke and the west end
Vulnerable spots
Exterior walls with kitchen or bathroom pipes, pipes over garages, crawlspaces, and outdoor tap lines in rim joists.
- Drafts are often the real problem, not just cold air.
During a cold snap
On bitter nights leave the cupboard doors under outside-wall sinks ajar. Let a tap drip slightly on vulnerable lines. Keep the heat up, even if away. Disconnect hoses.
- Know where your main valve is.
Thawing safely
If a pipe freezes, open the tap and warm the pipe with a hair dryer or warm towels. Never use an open flame. If it bursts, shut the main.
- Lasting fixes include air sealing, insulation and moving pipes.
When you are away
Keep the heat at a safe level. Ask someone to check the house during cold snaps. Consider shutting off the main and draining lines for long absences. Smart leak sensors and temperature alerts can warn you remotely.
- Check your insurance requirements for vacant homes.
Lasting fixes
Seal drafts at rim joists and around pipe penetrations.
- Insulate pipes in unheated spaces.
- Move pipes from exterior walls to interior ones during renovations.
- Install frost-free outdoor taps.
Your pipes may be at risk if you have
- Kitchen on an exterior wall
- Bathroom over a garage
- Crawlspace pipes
- Old outdoor taps
- Drafty rim joists