With the thermometer set to dip below freezing this week, make sure your water pipes are protected from freezing and possibly bursting. These tips can help:

Make sure all pipes outside the house are wrapped.

Check to see that pipes in unheated parts of your home (including crawl and attic spaces and under cabinets) are insulated.

Check to be sure outside faucet washers are secure.

Keep the lid on the meter box so your meter won’t freeze.

Make sure everyone in the household knows where the main water shut-off valve is, in case a pipe breaks and it is necessary to turn the water off in a hurry. Check this valve now to make sure it is working.

If you must leave your house vacant for a long period, turn off your water supply at the gate valve on the resident’s side of the meter box and have a plumber do the necessary work to prepare pipes to prevent damage.

During prolonged freezes, you may want to open all cabinet doors that contain water pipes to allow heat to enter them. You may want to place a lamp in the cabinets so the bulb can keep the area warm, but be certain no flammable materials are near it. Relocate any toxic materials so children and pets cannot get to them if cabinet doors are left open.

Keep extra water drawn up during freezing weather in case a main break or frozen pipe cuts off your water supply.

If you have no water and think a pipe may be frozen:

Call the Water Department’s emergency number at 817-FW-24-HRS (817-392-4477) so a representative can check to see if your meter is frozen. You will be notified about the outcome of this investigation.

If the meter is not frozen, the private plumbing is probably frozen at the point where the pipe goes under the house. Check there first.

If a pipe is frozen, it is safest to call a plumber to handle the problem. The pipe may be cracked and will burst when thawed. If an electrical appliance is used to heat the pipe, spraying water from a burst pipe could get onto it, creating the risk of electrocution.

If you suspect a water main is broken, immediately contact the Water Department’s emergency number at 817-FW-24-HRS (817-392-4477) so it can be repaired as soon as possible. Signs of a broken water main are water running down the street and buckled pavement. Don’t assume your neighbor has already called.