| Answer | What do I do with my Frozen Pipes?
Below-freezing temperatures can lead to customer-owned pipes freezing or bursting in winter. This can result in a loss of water, costly plumbing repairs, and extensive home flooding damage. Because customers are not always aware of this risk or are unsure of what they are responsible for, the Philadelphia Water Department provides tips for preventing and dealing with frozen pipes: water.phila.gov/drops/frozen-pipes/.
You Should Know:
You may need to engage the services of a licensed and registered plumber. The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) (215) 685-6300 is not responsible for your pipes, even if they are outside of your home. PWD knows broken pipes can be a nightmare. However, they cannot fix pipes on your property. Calling the hotline when your pipes break can waste valuable time needed to secure a plumber and ties up city resources needed to respond to emergencies.
If your pipes do freeze:
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Do not apply direct heat to the pipes. If your pipes freeze, use a space heater or hair dryer to heat the area around your meter and pipes.
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Make sure the faucet is turned on so melting water can drip out.
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After your pipes have thawed, look to see if your pipes are cracked or damaged and make sure to take necessary precautions to prevent freezing from happening again.
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Inspect your water meter for damage throughout the winter. If you notice leaking, contact the Philadelphia Water Department (215) 685-6300.
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Click here for more information on how to prevent frozen pipes.
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