Cold Weather Tips

Freezing conditions can damage water meters. If your meter freezes because you neglected to take simple steps to protect it from the cold, the City’s Water Department will repair or replace the meter at your expense. Homeowners can take the following precautions to keep water in pipes from freezing:

• Install heat tape to protect your pipes and meter. Follow the heat tape installation instructions and be sure the heat tape is working properly before freezing conditions occur. Never overlap heat tape.
• Insulate your pipes. If a sink is installed against an outside wall, insulate the wall and open cabinets beneath the sink to allow warm air to reach the pipes.
• Remove water hoses from outside connections, turn off water to outdoor faucets and, when possible, drain the pipes.

Homeowner's Responsibility

If service lines or pipes freeze, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to have them repaired. It is also the responsibility of the homeowner to pay the full replacement cost of the damaged water meter.

If the Water Department has to repair or replace your water meter, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to re-insulate and re-install the heat tape on the water meter.