When winter’s bite comes for us, one thing we must pay attention to is keeping your drains and pipes from freezing. In Illinois, winters are brutal. They leave a trail of frozen misery nearly every year. If you want to avoid your home being part of that trail, you need to keep your pipes open. There are a few simple things you can do to keep your pipes and drains safely flowing. Here are some of the best options.
Use Them: The best way to keep your drains and pipes from freezing is to use them. Each day, make sure you are using them regularly. Use warm water when you can. If the temperature is really low, let water drip through during the coldest hours. It keeps the pipes from getting stagnant.
Cover Them: Putting some of the foam insulation on the pipe can keep the cold out and the warm in. This can be done any time of year. You can find these at hardware stores, and they are inexpensive, but they can save you from a frozen problem during the winter.
Open the Area Up: One way of keeping the drains and pipes from freezing is to ensure there is plenty of warm air flow. For pipes under the sink, open the cupboards. This lets warm air move around the pipe, keeping it just a little warmer. This subtle temperature change can make all the difference.
Keep the House Warm: You should also make sure that your house remains warm. If you need to go out of town for a weekend, do not let the heat go off in the house. You can drop it slightly to keep the bills down. However, for an extended time without using your pipes, you want to keep the house warm.
In order to keep your pipes working, make sure to contact us here at Open-Drains Plumbing. We can help if you suspect that your drains or pipes are starting to freeze. Contact us at the earliest sign of a problem, and we will be there to help in no time!
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