How to Protect Pipes During Winter Months

How to Protect Pipes During Winter Months

None of us like the idea of dealing with frozen water pipes during the cold winter months.  The good news is that, with rare exceptions, keeping your pipes safe is a fairly simple process.  Here are a few tips to keep your pipes warm and toasty this winter.

– Keep The Temperature Consistent:  Many folks keep their thermostats set to a warmer temperature during the day and then turn it down at night.  Consider leaving the nighttime temperature the same as the daytime temperature.  It might cost a little more in heating, but that cost difference is way less than a potential pipe repair.

– Check Your Cabinet Doors:  If your sinks are on a poorly insulated outside wall, leave the doors to the cabinets under your sinks open.  This will allow the area around your pipes to stay warmer.

– Disconnect Outdoor Hoses:  Make sure all hoses are disconnected from your outside faucets.  Standing water in your hoses can freeze and then back up into the faucet.  This in turn, can cause the pipes leading to your outdoor faucet to freeze and burst.

– Pipe Insulation:  If you have pipes located in unheated areas, invest in pipe insulation tape.  It is not very expensive and could save a very expensive repair job.

– Turn Your Faucet on to Trickle:  Believe it or not, just turning your water on to a trickle will help keep your pipes from freezing.  If you’ve taken steps to heat and insulate your pipes but you are still concerned with the potential for freezing, this will do the trick.

– Keep Your Garage Door Closed:  If you have water supply lines in your garage, make sure to keep your garage door closed.  This will help keep as much heat in your garage as possible.

– Home Insulation:  For a long-term solution, make sure your home is well insulated to keep every bit of heat possible in your home.  Check for areas that are not well insulated and add to those areas.  Also be sure to fill any cracks or openings around pipes (both water and drain) where they enter the home.  

As we said earlier, these tips are simple.  And most of them are free or very inexpensive.  And they just might help keep your pipes from freezing this winter.

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Sources:

https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/winter-storm/frozen-pipes.html

https://www.thebalancesmb.com/stop-freezing-pipes-2124982

https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/how-to-prevent-pipes-from-freezing/

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