10 Dec Preventing your pipes from freezing this winter!
Tips for keeping your pipes from freezing this winter season!
It can be a real financial disaster if your pipes freeze in your home this winter. Here are some things you can do to make sure that doesn’t happen.
- Keep water moving. Water standing inside pipes can be subject to freezing. Allow a slight drip from a faucet farthest from your main water valve to keep that water active.
- Identify pipes with direct exposure to the outdoors and insulate them against the elements.
- Insulate pipes in unheated areas like the garage of the unfinished basement area.
- Prepare outdoor spigots and sprinkler systems for freezing temperatures by shutting off the water supply and bleeding the lines. Keep the valve open so any remaining water can expand without causing a break.
- During extreme temperatures, open cupboards, closets, and vanities to expose the pipes inside to the room temperature to help keep them from freezing.
- Keep your garage doors closed. That helps with another barrier to the outside weather temperatures. Consider adding insulation to attics, basement and crawl spaces.
- Conserve heat inside the home by sealing cracks and drafts around windows and doors and around electrical wiring and dryer vents.
- Do not let your thermostat dip below 55 degrees.
When falling temperatures bring a chill in the air, remember your home’s pipes get cold too. A few precautions when it comes to preventing frozen pipes will save costly repairs from a burst pipe. If your pipes do begin to freeze you can wrap warm towels around them or use a space heater or even a hair dryer to thaw them. When using these methods make sure you continue to monitor the situation and never leave the space unattended.