1. Locate and identify any and all shut off valves in your property.

2. Identify any potential problems.

3. Seal any gaps around the home where cold air may penetrate and become in contact with piping. In the severe cold, especially wind driven, even a tiny opening can let in enough cold air to cause a pipe to freeze. Such as the following:

• dryer vents

• windows

• cable penetrations

4. Turn off and drain all standard outside hose bibs.

Preparation:

1. Open sinks and any vanity doors of potential problem areas.

2. The pipes that are on outside walls are a potential freeze problem, leave a small trickle of the hot and cold water running.

3. Temporarily seal off any crawl space vents.

4. Keep the building warm.

5. If the building will be unoccupied for an extended period of time, make sure the heat is set to a temperature no lower than 55 degrees fahrenheit.

Protection:

1. If you turn on your water and it trickles out, it is likely that a pipe is frozen.

2. Keep the faucets open, as the pipe begins to thaw water will begin to flow and this will speed up the melting process within the pipe.

3. Apply heat to sections of the pipe. You may use the following methods to thaw a pipe:

• hair dryer

• space heater

• wrapping the pipe in hot towels

Do NOT use the following methods to thaw a pipe:

• blowtorch

• kerosene or propane heater

• charcoal stove

• any open flame device

If you are unable to locate the area of the pipe that it is frozen, call SERVPRO of Midtown Manhattan to help you with all of your cleanup and restoration needs!