Winter is here and with it comes freezing temperatures that don’t just affect the weather but also your water pipes. In order to avoid costly damage or just the hassle of trying to unfreeze your pipes, here are some tips to help prevent freezing.
Drain Outdoor Water
Before the temperature starts to drop below freezing, outdoor swimming pools or other water sources outside of the house should be drained by following the guidelines of the manufacturer to keep the freezing air from freezing the pipes.
Add Insulation
Insulation is a long-term solution to keep pipes from freezing. This allows for your home to retain heat better and therefore prevents the pipes from freezing that run through your home. More than likely your home probably already has decent insulation. If not, it could be worth looking into getting better insulation installed.
Close Garage
Oftentimes your pipe system goes through your garage. Your garage is usually one of the coldest places in your home and can be the source of freezing your pipes. That’s why it is important to ensure that you conserve as much heat for your garage as possible by closing the door to keep out the cold air.
Drip Water
If it’s a below freezing day, you may consider turning on your faucets to let the water drip. That doesn’t mean you need to turn the water on full pressure and let it run all day. But a steady drip of water running through the pipes will help keep a steady flow through the pipes and that deters freezing.
Thermostat
Choose a temperature to keep your heat at that won’t be changed during the time you’re gone at work. It’s important to keep the temperature of your house at a consistent temperature to ensure the pipes don’t freeze.
Open Cabinet Doors
Pipes run through the house and often that means they’re running behind the wall of the cabinets. If it’s a cold day, opening the cabinet doors allows heat to circulate better.
Vacation Tips
If you’re going on vacation don’t turn the heat in your home off completely. Make sure your home is still heated, even if it’s on a lower setting than it would be for everyday use. Also make sure to turn the water off to your home if you’re going out of town.
Even if you follow these tips, there’s still a chance your pipes could still freeze. If your pipes are frozen, or you suspect they might be frozen, contact a professional.
