Recent cold weather has prompted building owners to call Utilities Kingston with complaints of no water or low water pressure. This issue is being caused by the internal plumbing pipes freezing. Typically, this happens due to poorly insulated pipes in unheated areas such as crawl spaces and along foundation walls.

To check your building pipes:

Touch exposed cold water pipes, for example in your basement or under the kitchen sink. If a spot feel unusually cold (or colder than in other spots) take measures to provide heat. However, don't delay in calling a plumber, as the problem can get worse. Measures you can take include insulating pipes and external walls or opening cupboard doors to improve warm air flow. If you have a frozen internal plumbing pipe, try using a hair dryer to thaw it. (Safety first: never leave a heating device unattended and be careful not to weaken plumbing joints.)

Protect your building pipes from freezing:

Get tips to protect internal plumbing pipes from freezing.

If you’re going away, turn off the master shut-off valve and drain pipes, including external taps. (But consider other systems in your building, including water heaters and water softeners, as they may be affected when your water is off.)

Water service lines:

A water service line is the piping that connects a property or building to a municipal water main. While risk factors for service lines freezing are not currently high, be prepared by knowing how to respond if you think your water line has frozen: check out our page on what to do.

Our online resource on frozen water services helps explain the risk factors for freezing pipes and explains steps that building owners can take to help prevent this from occurring. As well, we explain the processes and responsibilities involved if your water service does freeze.