Prepare ahead of time as the weather turns cold.
When winter temperatures drop quickly, water pipes and boiler heating lines can freeze and break down. If your water meter or pipes freeze, you may lose access to running water entirely. This guide explains how to protect your home’s pipes and boiler before they freeze, and what to do if they already have.
What to Do at Each Temperature
Around -5°C
- Fill the inside of your water meter box with insulating material such as old clothes.
- Cover or seal the lid with plastic wrap or a plastic bag to block cold air from getting in.
- Wrap exposed pipes, bathroom plumbing, and boiler pipes with insulating material.
- Leave a tap slightly open — enough that it fills a disposable paper cup within 45 seconds.
Between -5°C and -10°C
- Double-check that your water meter, exposed pipes, bathroom, and boiler are all properly insulated and warm.
-10°C to -15°C lasting 2 or more days
- Even if your bathroom and boiler are being kept warm, leave a tap open just enough to let a very thin trickle of water flow continuously when you are away from home for a long time (enough to fill a disposable paper cup within 33 seconds).
Below -15°C lasting 2 or more days
- Even if your bathroom and boiler are kept warm, let a very thin trickle run from a tap during short periods when you are not using water — such as when stepping out briefly or overnight.
What to Do If Something Freezes
You can prevent your water meter from freezing with three simple steps:
- Fill: Pack the meter box with insulating material.
- Drip: When a cold snap lasts two or more days, let the water trickle slowly.
- Thaw: If the meter does freeze, thaw it slowly and gently. Never use a blowtorch or boiling water; warm water or a hair dryer on a low setting works best.
If a frozen pipe or meter has already broken, call 120 (Dasan Call Center).