Quick answer
Our top Rockville fall plumbing tip: check your water bill. Some Rockville homes get water from the City of Rockville and others from WSSC Water, which decides who you call about a frozen meter. Pipes on your property are your responsibility either way. Before winter, the city recommends draining outdoor faucets and irrigation, disconnecting rain barrels, and insulating exposed pipes.
City of Rockville water or WSSC? Check your bill
Rockville is one of the few places in Montgomery County with its own water utility, but not every Rockville address is on it. Some homes pay their water bill to the City of Rockville, and others to WSSC Water.
It matters in winter. If you think your water meter is frozen, City of Rockville customers call the city to schedule a service call, and WSSC customers call WSSC. The phone numbers are on your bill and on each utility's website. Find yours now and save it in your phone.
Frozen meter vs frozen pipe: who handles what
The City of Rockville says property owners are responsible for calling a plumber to repair frozen and broken pipes on their property and inside their buildings. The utility handles its meter. In practice:
- No water anywhere in the house and the meter area is very cold: it may be the meter. Call your water utility.
- No water at one or two fixtures, often on outside walls: it's likely a frozen pipe inside the house. That's a plumber's job, or a careful homeowner thaw.
- Water spraying or dripping from a pipe or ceiling: shut off your main water valve first, then call a plumber.
The City of Rockville's fall checklist, explained
The city's winter guidance covers the most common causes of frozen pipes. Here's how to do each one:
- Outdoor faucets: close the indoor valve that feeds each outdoor faucet, open the outdoor faucet to drain it, and remove the hose. Leave the outdoor faucet open over the winter.
- In-ground irrigation: drain the system before freezing weather. Many systems need to be blown out with air; follow your installer's instructions.
- Rain barrels: store them in a garage or shed, or disconnect them and divert the downspout to the ground before freezing weather.
- Drafts and crawl spaces: seal drafts, close off crawl spaces, and insulate pipes, walls and attics where pipes run.
- Exposed pipes: wrap them with insulation or pipe sleeves, especially in garages, crawl spaces and on outside walls.
During a cold snap
In severe cold, the City of Rockville suggests letting the faucet farthest from your main valve run at a slow, steady trickle. WSSC Water also suggests opening cabinet doors so warm air reaches pipes under sinks. The trickle uses very little water and can prevent a burst pipe.
If you're going away, keep the thermostat at 55°F or higher, or shut off the main water valve. For a long trip in deep winter, doing both is the safest choice.
If a pipe freezes
- Shut off the main water valve, as the city recommends.
- Open the faucet on the frozen line so water can escape as it thaws.
- Warm the frozen section gently with a hair dryer. Never use a torch, open flame or kerosene heater.
- Turn the water back on slowly and check carefully for leaks and cracks.
- If you find a split pipe, or can't reach the frozen section, call a plumber.
Older and newer Rockville homes have different weak spots
Rockville has a wide mix of homes. In older neighborhoods like Twinbrook and College Gardens, look for main shut-off valves that haven't been turned in years, older outdoor faucets that aren't frost-free, and drafty basements. In newer neighborhoods like King Farm and Fallsgrove, the usual issues are hoses left on frost-free faucets, lawn irrigation, and indoor fire sprinkler backflow valves that need regular service.
Either way, test your main shut-off valve this fall. If it won't turn or won't fully stop the water, have it replaced before you need it.
Don't forget the water heater and sump pump
Look for water or rust around your water heater, check whether the relief valve pipe is wet, and set the temperature to 120°F, as the U.S. Department of Energy recommends for most homes. If you have a sump pump, pour a bucket of water into the pit and make sure it pumps out and shuts off. Our county-wide fall plumbing checklist covers both in more detail.
From our jobs
Montgomery County specifics
- Some Rockville properties get water from the City of Rockville and others from WSSC Water. The city says to call it about a suspected frozen meter if you pay your water bill to the city, and to call WSSC if WSSC supplies your water.
- The City of Rockville says property owners are responsible for calling a plumber to repair frozen and broken pipes on their property and inside their buildings.
- The city's winter guidance includes draining in-ground irrigation, storing or disconnecting rain barrels, and keeping the thermostat at 55°F or higher when away, or shutting off the main valve.
Is this not for you?
Draining outdoor faucets, wrapping pipes and disconnecting rain barrels are all things you can do yourself. A suspected frozen meter is your water utility's job, not a plumber's. Call a plumber for a burst or split pipe, a frozen pipe you can't reach, a main valve that won't work, or any leak inside a wall or ceiling.
Frequently asked questions
Who do I call if my water meter freezes in Rockville?
It depends on who supplies your water. If you pay your water bill to the City of Rockville, call the city to schedule a service call. If WSSC Water supplies your home, call WSSC. Both numbers are on your water bill.
Is the city responsible for frozen pipes in my house?
No. The City of Rockville says property owners are responsible for calling a plumber to repair frozen or broken pipes on their property and inside their buildings.
Do I need to drain my irrigation system before winter in Rockville?
Yes. The city's winter guidance includes draining in-ground irrigation systems before freezing weather. Many systems are blown out with compressed air. Follow your installer's instructions or have it done professionally.
What should I do with my rain barrel in winter?
The City of Rockville recommends storing rain barrels in a garage or shed, or disconnecting them and diverting the downspout to the ground, before freezing weather.
What temperature should I leave my Rockville home at when I travel in winter?
The city recommends 55°F or higher, or shutting off your main water valve. For a long trip in very cold weather, doing both gives the most protection.