Winter brings a blanket of beautiful white snow and frosty early mornings. However, it can also present challenges to homeowners that could cause major damage. Frozen pipes can cause homeowners to experience various problems, including costly repairs. As the temperatures drop, water can freeze inside your pipes, causing them to crack or even burst, resulting in water damage. Good news! There are ways to stop pipes from becoming frozen and save yourself the hassle of costly repairs.
In this article, you will learn how to avoid having your pipes freeze, why that is important, and what a professional restoration company can do to help you recover if something goes wrong.
Why Frozen Pipes Can Be A Problem?
When water expands when it freezes, this creates immense pressure in the pipes. This pressure causes pipes to crack or even burst. It is most common in areas that are uninsulated and exposed to extreme temperatures. The water that leaks from your pipes can cause flooding in areas of your house, causing extensive damage to walls, floors, or personal belongings. The process of repairing a burst pipe can also be time-consuming and costly.
Preventing frozen pipes can reduce the cost and stress associated with dealing with water damage. This is how you can protect your home.
Insulate Pipes
Insulating your pipes is the best and most effective way to prevent them from freezing. Pipes located in exposed or unheated spaces, such as crawlspaces and basements, are at risk of freezing. Installing pipe wraps and sleeves will help keep the tubes warm.
Use heat tape or heat cable to offer even greater protection. Wrapped around pipes, these products can be plugged in and provide constant heat. These products will be particularly helpful in regions where temperatures can often drop below zero.
Seal Cracks
You can easily let cold air in through the cracks of your windows, doors, or walls. It will even get into your foundation. This air can freeze pipes that are in vulnerable places. You can prevent this by checking your home’s outer walls for cracks or holes that might allow cold air inside, particularly near the pipes.
Add extra insulation, such as in basements or attics, to warm your house during winter.
Keep The Indoor Temperature Consistent
A constant indoor temperature is crucial to preventing pipes from freezing. Even when you’re not at home, make sure that the thermostat is set to 55 degrees F. This will ensure that the interior of the home is kept warm enough to stop pipes from icing up, especially if you live in an area far from your heating source.
Open the doors to rooms rarely visited or near the house’s exterior to circulate warm, humid air around exposed pipes. In cold weather, you can open the doors to cabinets in the bathroom and kitchen. This will allow warmer air around exposed plumbing.
Let Faucets Drip During Extreme Cold
Allowing the water from your faucet to drip during cold weather is one of the easiest ways to prevent pipes from freezing. Let a little trickle of water pass through exposed pipes in cold weather to stop ice from forming. This is due to the fact that running water is much less likely to form ice than standing or stagnant water.
Water is much cheaper to buy than to fix a burst hose or deal with water damage. This is a small thing that can save your life.
Winterize Unused Water Systems
Winterizing the water system is essential if you intend to be out of the house during winter or have an unoccupied property. Close off your main water supply, and drain all the water from your pipes.
To drain pipes, you need to shut off water at the source, then open all taps and let any water that is left flow out. If you want to be extra safe, use an electric air compressor to remove excess water from the pipes.
Conclusion
To protect your home, it is vital to prevent frozen pipes. It’s critical to insulate and seal pipes, maintain a steady room temperature, and take preventative action to prevent expensive damage from burst water pipes. Water damage can occur due to frozen pipes. However, a reliable restoration company can help you repair and restore your house if this happens. This will help you save money, time, and stress from dealing with the water damage that can occur during the winter.