TAKE THESE STEPS TO PREVENT FROZEN PIPES THIS WINTER

12/1/2015 (Permalink)

TAKE THESE STEPS TO PREVENT FROZEN PIPES THIS WINTER

If you’ve never experienced the disasters frozen pipes can cause, such as bursting and flooding, you probably don’t pay much mind to taking care of your water pipes. But ask anyone who has ever dealt with frozen pipes, and they’ll tell you the preventative maintenance is definitely worth it. In a modern age where almost everything is climate controlled, it’s easy to forget that pipes run through spaces that can get chilly enough for them to freeze.

Frozen pipes can cause costly water damage.

The last thing you want is costly water damage caused by burst pipes. So make sure you take the following steps in order to prevent frozen pipes this winter.

Preventing Frozen Pipes and Water Damage

Be well-versed in these steps, and you won’t have to worry about a pipe catastrophe when the temperatures drop.

Insulate: Insulating the spaces your pipes run through, such as attics, crawl spaces and basements will prevent those spaces from dropping below freezing. If you can’t insulate the spaces, consider insulating your pipes. Insulation is the easiest step of preventative maintenance against frozen pipes.

Climate Control: If you leave your home for an extended period of time, you might think to turn off the heat if no one will be there. However, if temperatures drop low enough, your home can become cool enough for frozen pipes. So if you do leave, keep the thermostat on at least 55°F so that you don’t come back to unsightly water damage.

Faucets: When you know temperatures are below freezing outside, open your facets just a bit to allow them to drip. Running water through the pipes will help prevent them from freezing.

Seal: Make sure your doors, windows, and foundation are sealed against air leaks. Besides driving your energy bill up, letting the warm air out can let the temperature drop low enough (in some areas) for pipes to freeze.