Frozen Pipes


Frozen Pipes
Dover Township requires all residents whose water meters and pipes are exposed to freezing temperatures have heat tape or some type of insulation around them to prevent any damage.

10 Tips to Protect Plumbing During Cold Weather

  2. Inspect outside faucets.  If they’re dripping or leaking, make the necessary repairs or call a plumber.
  3. Note that when pipes freeze, water pressure builds and causes cracks, whether the pipe is made of plastic, copper or steel.  Even a tiny crack can unleash 250 gallons of water in a single day.
  4. If your home is equipped with interior shut-off valves leading to outside faucets, close them and drain water from the pipes.  Cover outside faucets using an inexpensive faucet insulation kit.
  5. Insulate pipes in unheated areas.  Apply heat tape or thermostat-controlled heat cables around exposed pipes.
  7. Set water heater thermostat to 125 degrees F for optimum performance without risk of scalding.
  8. Clear any leaves and debris from roof gutters and downspouts to ensure proper drainage through the winter season.
  10. Make sure your furnace is set no lower than 55 degrees F during the winter to prevent pipes from freezing.


Winterizing Your Homes Water Supply

Turn off the water at the exterior.  Make sure that the water supply is turned off completely at the main supply point.  If the furnace should fail on a very cold day, water in a pipe could freeze and burst the pipe.  To turn water off to the exterior, please call the Dover Township Water Department at 717-292-3634Note:  The water meter should be disconnected and drained to prevent meter from damage.

  2. Get an air compressor to blow the lines of excess water.  Eliminate or dilute the water in drain traps by pouring an “RV” type antifreeze solution into them, as directed by the instructions.
  3. Close the sink and tub drains.
  5. Turn off and drain fountains and other sources of standing water.
  6. Drain water from dishwashers and pour RV antifreeze, with refrigerators (with a water dispenser or an ice maker) and washing machines, following the manufacturer’s directions.  Remove the water filter from inside the refrigerator.



More Public Water Information