Avoid Frozen Pipes This Winter
As nighttime temperatures fall into the single digits, there’s more of a chance that water will freeze inside your pipes. Frozen water can lead to even the strongest pipes bursting and causing severe water damage inside your home. The most vulnerable pipes are those located outside your home’s heated spaces, such as those in your crawl space. Here are some tips offered by the American Red Cross to keep pipes from freezing:
Drain water from pipes that you don’t use during the winter – Leaving water in pipes that lead to your swimming pool or sprinklers often leads to frozen pipes.
Insulate your pipes – Pipe insulation can keep the pipes in the unheated areas of your home, such as the basement, crawl space, attic or garage, from getting cold enough to allow the water to freeze.
Close your garage door - Keep your garage door closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
Open kitchen and bathroom cabinets – This will allow heated air to reach the pipes leading to the sink.
Let water drip – In extreme cold temperatures, even a slight flow of water through a pipe can prevent it from freezing.
Keep your home warm – Do not set your thermostat below 55 degrees, even if you are out for the day or on a vacation.
If you think you have a frozen pipe that has yet to burst, turn on the faucets and contact us. If a pipe has already burst, shut off the main valve and cut water supply to the house. Do not attempt to thaw pipes with a torch or open flame.
