As temperatures drop, homeowners must prepare their houses for the winter to avoid certain unwanted occurrences. Pipes are particularly vulnerable as water can easily freeze in them. Pipes are prone to freeze and burst in the wintertime when preventative measures have not been taken, which commonly leads to expensive damage. The damage may be even more serious if frozen pipes burst, such as flooding. It’s up to you to stay on top of protecting your water systems in the winter. The main thing is to keep your pipes warm and protected, which can be done through the following methods.
Insulate Pipes
You can help avoid frozen pipes by using insulation for them. Make sure it is designed for your pipes, or it might not work. This inexpensive investment should first be applied to the pipes in unheated spaces of your home, such as the attic, garage, or basement. If you lack ample time before the chill sets in, you can use duct tape and wadded up newspaper for a temporary solution.
Keep Garage Doors Closed
It’s beneficial to keep garage doors closed as much as possible, especially if the water supply lines go through the garage. Garages are especially cold spaces in the winter, so it is important not to let any colder air in that would drop the temperature more. If a garage door is left open, water supply lines are at significant risk of freezing.
Open Cabinets
It is advised to open the bathroom and kitchen cabinets every so often to allow warm air to circulate through the plumbing. This may help prevent ice blockages and pressure build-ups within the pipes. If there will be a significant drop in temperatures, it is best to open cabinets before going to bed so that the pipes can warm up a bit. Be sure to remove chemicals or toxic cleaners from the cabinets before leaving them open if you have small children or pets that could get into them.
Let Faucets Drip
Another way to help prevent your pipes from freezing is by leaving the faucets running. No, you do not want to leave all of your faucets in your home running all the time. Simply figure out the ones that are connected to the exposed piping and allow those few faucets to drip when it is freezing. Even the tiniest trickle carries some energy that will help prevent the formation of ice blockages. The running water also relieves pressure build-up to help prevent pipes from bursting (even if the pipes freeze). Leave both hot and cold water lines trickling so that pressure doesn’t build up in only one.
Keep the Thermostat Consistent
Consider keeping your thermostat set to the same temperature during both the day and the night. You may encounter a slightly higher energy bill, but that cost will be much preferred over the expense of pipe repairs. Consistent temperatures during the day and the night will drastically help keep the pipes free of ice.
Seal Cracks and Openings
Do a thorough walk-through of your home, checking for openings such as cracks or holes. Be sure to close up any drafts that could be affecting your water systems. Examine your windows, door frames, and cable holes, and seal openings with caulk, especially near piping in exterior and interior walls. This will significantly help keep warm air contained to prevent ice blockages.
Use Heating Tape
Applying electrical heating tape directly to the pipe to help it retain heat is another option. This can be particularly beneficial for pipes in unheated or exterior locations (i.e. attics, basements). A self-monitoring heating tape uses a sensor and turns it on and off by itself whenever it senses that heat is needed. A manual type of heating tape requires you to plug it in when needed and unplug it once the pipe is warm. Keep in mind that using heating tape can be dangerous as you will need to be very careful to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and safety procedures.
About Sine Insurance
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