Frozen Pipes: 7 Easy Precautions to Take

Nothing can make a winter more memorable – in a bad way – than frozen pipes. Besides the inconvenience of scheduling repairs and going without water till they’ve been completed, frozen pipes can result in pipes rupturing and potential flooding, resulting in costly damages to home and property. The good news is that with the right preparation and professional assistance, the risk of damage from frozen pipes can be minimized.

1. Drain water from outside basins, pools and water sprinkler lines. If you use an external well pump, turn it off and open the water valves to reduce the pressure in the lines. Keep the valves open until the pressure drops and water no longer exits from the faucet.
2. Insulate exposed pipes… …especially in crawl spaces, garages and attics with products designed for water pipes such as “pipe sleeves,” or install thermostatically controlled heat cables. Enlisting the help of a plumbing professional can help save time and effort.
3. Seal air leaks around the home. Drafts are a source for freezing temperature. Depending on the type of leak, use caulk, weatherstripping or spray foam around window and door frames, dryer vents, electrical wiring, and wherever air leaks are found near exposed pipes.
4. Monitor your thermostat Keep your home thermostat set no lower than 55 degrees F, even when you’re on away from home for a long period. The warmer it is inside, the less chance the pipes will freeze.
5. Open cabinet doors Keep cabinet doors open in critical areas such as kitchens and bathrooms to allow warmer air to circulate around exposed pipes.
6. Allow your faucets to drip Have a faucet open just enough to drip. If it’s tied to a hot and cold line, open both lines enough to drip together. Water movement reduces the likelihood of water becoming frozen.
7. Schedule a seasonal plumbing inspection Finally, having an expert plumbing service perform a system review to identify potential risks can go a long way towards preventing future damage from frozen pipes.

To find out more about how to prevent or repair frozen pipes, please contact us at Sobieski Services. Our goal is to help educate our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC & plumbing systems).

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