With the recent extreme cold weather, the City of Kawartha Lakes has observed an uptick in frozen residential water lines. Copper pipes are in danger of freezing if they run along an outside wall, within a crawl space or inside an unheated basement. Frozen pipes block the flow of water and may split or crack since water expands as it freezes. It is very expensive to repair or replace damaged copper pipes. The city’s water and wastewater division recommends you take the following precautions to safeguard your water lines from freezing.

Things you can do if you live full-time on your recreational property

• If you have an exposed water line in your crawl space or basement, ensure the space is heated to above zero
• Leave an inside house-water tap running on low to keep water flowing to avoid freezing
• Install a heat-traced wire inside or around your water line. The cost is reasonable. Check with your local plumbing contractor for installation advice

If your water line freezes, call a local plumbing contractor immediately. The longer you wait, the firmer the ice could become, which may cause more damage.

Things you can do if you visit your cottage on winter weekends

If you only visit your cottage on weekends, it is likely impractical to leave an inside house-water tap running on low. Talk to a plumber about wrapping your water lines in wire or heat-tracing them.

• Heat-trace water lines are thermostatically controlled and usually turn on only when the temperature approaches zero to save energy. If there is a power outage and the pipe freezes, the heat tape will thaw the pipe when the power is restored.

Things you can do in the autumn if you close your cottage for the winter

It’s critical to winterize the water pipes at your cottage if you don’t plan to visit during the winter. Winterizing is especially important in areas – like the Kawarthas – that experience extreme winter temperatures. If you do not properly winterize your water pipes before you close your cottage for the season, your pipes can freeze and crack, which could lead to water leaks all over your cottage.

• Close the water supply into your cottage. Turn off your water supply valve
• Open all the faucets in your cottage and allow the water in the lines to pour out
• Drain your water heater tank. Open the water heater drain valve and release all the water in your tank. You can use a bucket to contain the water
• Drain the water from your toilets. Flush your toilet and hold down the lever until there is no water left in the toilet bowl
• If you have a fridge with a water dispenser on the door, drain the water out of your fridge. Attempt to obtain water from the water dispenser until the fridge runs out of water
• Pour antifreeze in all your drains

If you would like more information on dealing with frozen water lines or safeguarding your property, please contact the call centre at the City of Kawartha Lakes at 705-324-9411.