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Tips on Protecting Plumbing from Freezing Temps
To prevent pipes from freezing, let faucets drip slightly, open kitchen/bathroom cabinets to warm pipes, keep your home heated (above 55 degrees Fahrenheit), and insulate exposed pipes with sleeves or heat tape, ensuring you also disconnect garden hoses and seal air leaks in walls/attics where pipes are located. Moving water is harder to freeze, and warm air circulation helps protect vulnerable plumbing from servere cold.
During a Freeze:
- Dirp faucets: let both hot and cold water drip from faucets, especially those on exterior walls, to relieve pressure and keep water moving.
- Open Cabinets: open under-sink cabinets to allow warm air from the house to reach pipes. (Remove harmful chemicals first).
- Maintain Heat: keep your thermostat at a consistent temperature (no lower than 55F), even if you're away, to prevent the house from getting too cold.
- Seal Air Leaks: close garage doors and seal cracks where cold air can enter, particularly around pipes.
Before Winter Hits (Long-Term Prevention)
- Insulate Exposed Pipes: Use foam pipe sleeves, pipe wrap, or even rags on pipes in unheated areas like crawls spaces, attics, and garages.
- Install Heat Tape: Use thrmostatically controlled heat cables on pipes, following manufacturer instructions carefully.
- Winterize Outdoor Faucets: Disconnect garden hoses and shut off the water supply to outdoor spigots if possible.
- Insulate Vents & Walls: Seal air leaks around dryer vents, electrical wiring, and other openings near pipes.
If a Pipe Freezes
- Keep Water Running: keep the faucet open; the running water helps melt the ice.
- Apply Gentle Heat: use a hairdryer, electric heating pad, or towels soaked in warm water on the frozen section (never an open flame).
- Know Your Shut-Off: locate your main water shut-off valve in case a pipe bursts.
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