City crews work to thaw a frozen pipe on Pritchard Avenue. (CHRISD.CA FILE)
It’s not even technically winter yet, but already 23 internal water pipes inside Winnipeg homes have frozen.
The city is urging residents to take precautions to ensure their pipes don’t freeze up. Last winter was a challenge for the city, with thousands of households reporting frozen water pipes and a shortage of thawing equipment to remedy the issue.
Resident are being asked to take precautions, such as insulate areas of their home containing water pipes, including crawl spaces, garages and attics.
Other tips include:
- Insulate water pipes (both hot and cold) near the exterior walls, especially those facing north.
- Weather-seal your windows.
- Check for air leaks around electrical outlets, dryer vents and pipes. Seal these leaks with caulking or insulation to keep cold air away from your pipes.
- Heat areas of your home containing water pipes so that warm air will prevent them from freezing.
- Keep the garage door closed if there are water pipes inside.
- Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to uninsulated pipes under sinks and appliances near outside walls.
The city says it’s prepared to deal with frozen pipes this winter and has trained more staff to respond to calls. Additional thawing equipment has also been obtained.
Property owners can call a private contractor in the event their pipes freeze, or enlist the help of the city’s services for $305 for same-day service.
There has been no reports this season of underground frozen pipes on either public or private property.
