Make Sure Your Pipes Don’t Freeze This Winter

If you live in an area with below-freezing temperatures in the winter, it’s crucial to take preventative measures to avoid frozen pipes. A frozen pipe can cause costly damages like leaking or busted pipes. This can lead to mold, flooding, and structural damage. 

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

So, how do you avoid your pipes freezing? Follow the biggest tips for preventing frozen pipes before disaster strikes. 

Insulate Your Pipes

Exposed pipes are more susceptible to freezing. If you have pipes outside, in your crawl space, or your attic, pipe insulation should be around them. This can give the pipes their first line of defense against harsh winter temperatures. 

Secure Outdoor Faucets, Valves, and Hoses

Before temperatures dip below freezing, disconnect all of your garden hoses from faucets. If you have a valve shutoff for only your outdoor faucets, use it to shut off and drain the water from your outdoor faucets. This can help prevent frozen water in these pipes. 

Let Water Drip

Water trickling through a faucet may be all you need to keep pipes from freezing. Let warm water drip overnight when temperatures are cold. This is most successful if you run the water through a faucet on an exterior wall of your home. 

Seal Leaks

Look for any air leaks around your pipes, electrical wiring, or dryer vents. If you find any, seal them thoroughly using caulk or insulation to keep the cold air from getting in. 

What to Do if Your Pipes Freeze

If your pipes freeze, there’s a chance they will burst, though it isn’t a guarantee. However, if you notice you have a frozen pipe, follow the following steps. 

Apply Safe Heat

Don’t apply an open flame to frozen pipes; it could be a fire hazard. You can warm the faucet using a hairdryer if you aren’t near standing water or flammable materials. Start as close to the faucet as you can and work out to the coldest area of the pipe. 

Shut Off the Water Supply

If your pipes burst, turn the water supply off immediately. Leave the water faucets on, but ensure the valve has been closed so no water enters the house. 

Call a Plumber

If you turn on a faucet and no water comes out, keep it on and contact Open Drains so they can come out and investigate the issue. Doing this as soon as possible can prevent larger problems.