Freezing Temperature Alert

January 20, 2026   Johnston County Public Utilities would like to remind our customers to be prepared for the upcoming freezing winter temperatures that could cause frozen water lines.  Cold weather has a significant impact on the condition of your plumbing, especially when the temperature drops below 32 degrees.  Remember these important tips to help protect your plumbing as near and below freezing temperatures enter our area:

• If you have pipes that are subject to freezing, keep a steady trickle of water running from the nearest faucet.  
• Insulate all outside pipes with cloth or similar material to help prevent freezing.  All piping in basements, crawl spaces, garage & attics, including those to water heaters, should be protected as well.  
• Check to make sure the cover to your water meter fits tightly and is closed.
• Open cabinet doors under your kitchen and bathroom sinks to allow heat inside.
• Close your home's foundation vents to reduce the circulation of cold air underneath your home.
• To protect outdoor faucets and hoses from freezing, disconnect all hoses and drain them thoroughly.  Shut off the indoor water supply valve for the outside spigot if possible, let the remaining water drain out and cover the faucet with an insulated foam or hard plastic cover for extra protection.
• If you have frozen pipes, but have some running water, the safest thing to do is to wait for the frozen pipes to thaw.  Once the pipes have thawed, be sure to check for cracks or leaks.  Unlike other liquids, water expands when it freezes.  When water pipes freeze, the expanding water can break the pipe and cause more damage to your home as the pipes begin to thaw.  Never use an open flame to thaw waterlines.
• If you have a backflow assembly on your water service line, insulate the assembly properly by wrapping or covering the pipe.  Do not cover the bottom relief opening on the underside at the middle of the apparatus to avoid creating other flooding problems.
• Commercial water customers should also wrap any fire lines in the building.  Disconnect any outside water hoses from spigots, as water trapped inside can freeze and crack the hose.