As the colder winter seasons approaches, the dangers of frozen pipes in your home become more pronounced. This isn’t just a danger for colder regions, either. Warmer areas that experience cold snaps may be more susceptible. Read on to find out how to protect your pipes from freezing over.
The Dangers of Frozen Pipes
Not only can frozen pipes prevent water flow, they can also burst, causing damage and possibly flooding your home. This can lead to a serious amount of property damage cost that may or may not be covered by insurance.
Read on for some tips on how to prevent this disaster from striking your home.
Keep Your Heat Running
Most homes keep their thermometers set for a reasonable temperature, so the danger here comes from homes or buildings that are empty. Never just turn the heat off to save money.
If you or a tenant are leaving your home for a period of time, don’t just turn the heat off. Set it to between 50 and 60 degrees to help keep pipes from freezing.
Dripping Faucet
If a period of extreme cold is approaching, it’s a good idea to leave a couple of faucets slowly dripping. This relieves pressure in your pipes. The reason that pipes burst is the pressure that builds between the blockage and the faucet, so allowing that pressure to escape is key.
Seal Cracks and Holes
Keep the cold air out and the warm air in by sealing up any cracks and holes around your pipes on both interior and exterior walls.
Open Interior Doors
Open cabinet doors that conceal pipes to allow your home’s heating system to reach them. Ever walked into your closet in the winter and felt a substantial temperature drop? The same rule applies to the inside of cabinets.
Insulation
Pipes in basements and attics that are exposed to the coldest air may need to be insulated with rubber or fiberglass sleeves. This shouldn’t be a difficult or time-consuming process. If you have pipes in your walls that need to be insulated, however, it could get pricey.