How to Prevent Frozen Pipes This Winter
Colder weather brings with it the risk of frozen pipes, which can lead to a plumbing emergency. As temperatures drop below freezing, water in the home's pipes can freeze, expand, and exert immense pressure, often leading to ruptured and burst pipes and extensive water damage.
Fortunately, homeowners can take proactive steps to safeguard their plumbing systems and prevent these costly occurrences. From insulating exposed lines to ensuring proper heat circulation, preparing the plumbing is the best defense against winter's deep freeze. This post will share some ways to help protect the home’s plumbing.
Insulate the Pipes
One way to help prevent piping from freezing is to add pipe insulation. Pipes located in unheated or poorly insulated areas of a home, such as the attic, crawl space, unfinished basement, or garage, are most vulnerable to extremely cold temperatures. These spaces often lack the consistent warmth needed to keep pipes above freezing, making them high-risk zones for frozen and burst pipes.
Applying foam pipe sleeves, fiberglass insulation, or heat tape to these exposed pipes creates a protective barrier, slowing the rate at which the cold air can penetrate. Insulating these critical sections helps reduce the risk of water freezing inside the pipes and causing them to burst, which can help prevent extensive water damage.
Keep the Heat on and Open Cabinets
Maintaining a consistent temperature inside the home is one of the easiest ways to ensure internal plumbing remains safe from freezing. When the outside temperature plummets, setting the thermostat to a steady temperature, 55 degrees or higher, provides continuous background warmth that permeates the walls and interior spaces. Even if nobody is home, it’s important to keep the heat above 55 degrees to protect the plumbing. By preventing the temperature around the pipes from dropping too low, homeowners can minimize the chance of freezing pipes.
In addition to keeping the home heated, another way to help protect hard-to-reach plumbing is to open cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks, particularly those on exterior walls. Pipes often run along these walls and are shielded from the home's heat by the cabinetry itself. Opening these doors allows the warm air circulating within the heated rooms to flow directly onto the pipes and fittings. This simple action helps raise the immediate temperature surrounding the plumbing, providing an extra layer of protection against freezing during severe cold snaps.
Winterize Outdoor Faucets
Outdoor faucets, also known as hose bibs or spigots, are highly susceptible to freezing because they are constantly exposed to cold outdoor conditions. The critical steps for protecting them involve first disconnecting any garden hoses attached. Any water trapped inside a hose can freeze and expand back into the faucet, potentially damaging the valve and the pipe running inside the wall. Once the hose is removed and completely drained, it should be stored until spring.
The next vital step is to eliminate any standing water in the supply line itself. This is achieved by locating the shut-off valve that controls the water supply to the outdoor faucet and turning off the water to the outdoor spigot. After the supply is shut off, open the outdoor faucet to allow any remaining water in the pipe to drain. Finally, once the pipe is empty, cover the exterior faucet with a durable insulating cover to prevent cold air from entering.
About Warhold Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning
Warhold Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning is a local family-owned company serving Greensburg and the surrounding areas. They provide personalized service, straightforward pricing, and no mess left behind. Call them for plumbing and burst pipe repair services in Greensburg, PA.
