OKC Utilities shares tips to prepare your pipes for freezing weather

Published on February 10, 2024

With temperatures expected to drop below freezing for several consecutive days this week, the OKC Utilities Department understands some customers may choose to drip their faucets to help prevent freezing water lines and pipe bursts. For those who choose to do so, special care should be taken to prevent excessive water use and to protect our vital natural resource.

Indoors:

The only faucets that should be dripping are those along exterior-facing walls.
It does not take a heavy flow of water to effectively prevent pipes from freezing. Only a small, steady drip or stream no wider than a pencil lead is needed. (Check out our how-to video.)
If your faucet has a hot and cold handle, open both to mid-flow, then simultaneously reduce both to a small flow until you reach a “pencil lead” stream. If your faucet has a single handle, position the handle in the middle to allow both hot and cold water to drip.
Open cabinet doors in the kitchen and bathrooms to allow warm air to circulate underneath and keep pipes warmer.
If you have a basement or crawl space, wrap exposed water pipes to insulate them against freezing. This can also help prevent water waste by keeping water in the pipes warmer.

If you notice your pipes are frozen, use your home’s shut-off valve to shut off water to your home and allow the pipes to thaw.

If you experience a water line break, shut your water off to limit the amount of excess water flow, and call Utilities Customer Service at (405) 297-2833 for assistance.

Outdoors:

Disconnect garden hoses and cover outdoor water spigots with a foam insulator or other cover.
Wrap and cover sprinkler backflow devices.
Turn off your sprinkler system or set it to manual and make sure it is not scheduled to run while temperatures are below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Do not let sprinkler systems run during freezing temperatures. As a reminder, Oklahoma City Municipal Code prohibits the release or discharge of water onto streets and sidewalks. Water sprayed or drifting onto streets and sidewalks during freezing temperatures causes hazardous conditions for pedestrians and drivers. Accidents and injuries caused by ice may result in liability to the customer or property owner.