Handy Tips to Avoid Frozen Pipes this Winter
It’s all about prevention!
Frozen pipes can leave you without water in the worst of weather, and could cost a lot to repair. However, with a few simple steps, you can easily preserve both your budget and your peace of mind!
Before the cold weather sets in:
- Check sprinkler or irrigation systems. Make sure everything is turned off and drained.
- Eliminate sources of cold air near water lines. Fix drafty windows and plug drafts around doors. Identify your home’s freezing points.
- Know how to shut off your water. If you do not know how to turn off your water give us a call we’d love to help you out!
- Protect your pipes. Wrap them with insulation.
When temperatures stay below freezing:
- If pipes run through cabinets or vanities open the doors to let warmer room temperatures flow in.
- Keep water moving through the pipes by allowing a small trickle of water to run.
But if your pipes do freeze:
- Shut off the water immediately.
- Thaw pipes with warm air, with a hair dryer or space heater. Do not leave space heaters unattended and do not use kerosene heaters or open flames.
- Be careful turning water back on. Once pipes are thawed, slowly turn the water back on and check pipes and joints for any cracks.