Maintenance FAQ

Surface Water

Water

Parks Maintenance

Street Maintenance

Sanitary Sewer

Don't let winter sneak up on you! Remember: a frozen water meter and/or frozen pipes are not only inconvenient, they can be expensive. Here are a few tips to keep your water flowing freely all winter.
 

Check your outside faucets:
		Disconnect all hoses from outside faucets
		Shut off and drain all outside faucets and lawn sprinkler systems  OR
		If you don't have a separate shut-off valve for outside faucets, protect them with insulated covers. You'll find covers at hardware and building supply stores.

Eliminate drafts:
		Close all windows and doors near water lines
		Caulk around pipes where they enter the house.
		Close foundation vents not needed for residential use.
		Seal cracks in basement, crawl space, and other outside walls

Insulate pipes:
		Wrap pipes in unheated areas with weatherproof insulation or heat tape products

Protect the water meter:
		If your water meter is in an unheated area or near drafts from outdoors, insulate it to keep it from freezing.

What to do if your pipes freeze:
		Locate your main shut-off valve. If a water line has broken or split, you don't want to waste time looking for the shut-off when the water begins flowing again!
		Test the shut-off to make sure it's working. (If you can't locate the main shut-off or it won't operate, call our Maintenance Services Department at 503-635-0280.)
		Find where the pipe is frozen. Look in unheated areas where pipe insulation is loose or missing.
		Open a faucet downstream of the frozen area to provide an outlet for the water after thawing.
		Thaw the pipe using a hair dryer on the low-heat setting. Move the dryer back and forth across the frozen section. Be patient! This is a slow process.
		NEVER USE AN OPEN FLAME TO THAW A FROZEN LINE!!
		If none of your faucets work and you can't find where the lines are frozen, it's possible your service line is frozen. Call Maintenance Services to arrange for a serviceman to visit the property.
		If the service line is frozen between the water main and the outside shut-off valve (curb stop), our Maintenance Services Department will thaw the line. There is no charge for this service..
		If the service line is frozen within your property, thawing the line is your responsibility.

Take a few minutes to prepare your home for winter and avoid these problems!