Over a quarter million Americans experience disruptions in their lives every winter due to frozen pipes. Frozen pipes can be avoided, unlike residential damage from blizzards or other natural calamities.
There are many ways to deal with frozen pipes. However, prevention is always better.
What to do during the warmer months
It can be challenging to concentrate on frozen pipes during the peak of summer. House Stark’s motto, winter is coming, should be a reminder. It’s still warm. Here’s what to do to reduce the chance that your pipes freeze.
Check for any leaks in your pipes that allow cold air to enter. These air leaks should be checked around pipes, dryer vents and electrical wiring. To seal out the cold, use insulation or caulk. Even a tiny hole can let enough cold air through to freeze pipes when the weather is freezing.
Insulate your crawl spaces and attic pipes. Insulation is more effective in protecting pipes than not using it. The pipes that are exposed are most susceptible to freezing, so make sure you insulate your home even if it is in a cold climate.
* Pipes can be wrapped with heat tape or thermostatically controlled warming cables. These products should be approved by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. and similar independent testing groups. Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer regarding installation and use.
* Disconnect your garden hoses just before winter. Use an indoor valve to turn off the water supply to outside faucets. This will make it less likely that the pipe running inside your house will freeze. This may not be necessary if you have frost-proof outdoor taps and your house is new. These faucets allow you to turn the handle outside of your home to the “off” position, which turns off the valve within the home.
Additional preventive measures
Even if you live somewhere that can be very severe; basic preventive measures might not suffice. These are some additional preventive steps you can take:
Allow warm water to drip overnight. This warm water should be dripped from an outside faucet.
For both day and night, maintain a consistent temperature setting for your thermostat. You should not turn down the heat just before you go to bed. This could cause your pipes to freeze.
* Do not close your cabinet doors to allow heat to escape from the pipes beneath the sinks or appliances near the exterior walls.
If you’re traveling south in the winter, a friend should check your home to make sure it is warm enough to keep your pipes from freezing. You should shut off your water supply if your home doesn’t have a sprinkler system to protect against fire. With the knowledge that your pipes have not frozen, you will be able to enjoy your vacation even more.