3 Tips for Preventing Frozen Pipes This Winter
During the colder months, many homeowners focus on important tasks like cleaning the furnace, shoveling the sidewalks, and cover up their shrubbery. But one important task many homeowners forget about is taking precautionary measures to prevent frozen pipes. When water sits in the pipes, it can freeze, expand, and actually rupture. Unprotected pipes can lead to leaks and even flooding if homeowners aren’t careful. So before winter arrives, let’s look at a few easy ways homeowners can prevent frozen pipes.
Make sure there’s plenty of insulation: One of the easiest ways to prevent pipes from freezing is to ensure the insulation is properly done in the home. Insulation is important to prevent heated air from escaping, but it also prevents cold air from entering the home. Areas with pipes should be given extra attention, especially in basements seeing as how 37% of all frozen pipe failures are seen in basements. Home insulation may be enough to prevent pipes from freezing but if you continue to have frozen pipes, plumbing services can actually insulate the pipes themselves. Either way added insulation will help.
Shut off the outdoor water supply: While it may not be practical to turn off the water inside your home, you can close the valves the supply outdoor water. Hoses and faucets outside the home can become severely damaged if they are left as-is outside all winter. So instead, make sure you remove any hoses and spouts from outside. They should be properly drained and stored until warmer weather. Turning off the outside water supply will help prevent those particular pipes from freezing.
Invest in insulation products: Aside from standard pipe insulation, there are several other products you can invest in to keep pipes from freezing. Products like heat tape, heat cable, or even pipe sleeves can help protect exposed pipes in the colder temperatures. Local plumbing services should offer installation of either insulation or additional products. Trusting experienced plumbers to properly protect your pipes is the best way to go. They have the knowledge and experience needed to ensure the job gets done right.
Taking these few simple steps can be significantly beneficial when it comes to preventing frozen pipes. So keep these tips in mind and work with your local plumber to ensure your pipes remain intact and unharmed this winter.
