Freeze Plan

Preparing for Freezing Weather

Know the location of the shut-off valve in your building. If you do not currently have a shut-off valve, have one installed as soon as possible.

Preparing Outside Your Home

  • Remove and store garden hoses.
  • Wrap outside faucets.
  • Wrap pipes in crawl spaces, under porches, garages, and any pipes that have frozen in the past.
  • Wrap pipes with dry newspapers, then cover newspapers with plastic wrap or garbage bags, and secure with string or wire.
    • Commercially manufactured coverings are also sold at hardware and plumbing stores.
  • To wrap pipes that have frozen before, even though precautionary measures have been used, electric heat tape should be used.
  • Drain irrigation or water systems.
  • If snow or ice is forecasted, some customers may want to place a visible stick or marker by the water meter.

Preparing Inside Your Home

  • Open cabinet doors under sinks to give pipes next to outside walls exposure to warm air.
  • Find the faucet farthest from the main water line and allow it to drip cold water at a very slow rate in order to keep water moving through the pipes.

Vacant & Unheated Buildings

  • Turn off the hot water heater and the main shut-off valve in the building.
  • Drain pipes by opening all indoor and outdoor faucets and then closing them.
  • Shut off the valve to each toilet and flush once to drain the tank (but not necessarily the bowl).

Thawing Frozen Pipes

  • Thaw as soon as possible.
  • Do not use an open flame or hair dryer.
  • Wrap the pipe with rags and pour hot water over the rags.
  • Call a plumber or capable handyman to thaw frozen pipes or replace broken ones.

For More Information

For more information please contact:
Delois Thompson, Water Billing Manager
401 S Alamo Street
Marshall, Texas 75670
Phone: 903-935-4435
Email Delois Thompson