Avoid Frozen Pipes This Winter
Don’t let frozen pipes damage your property and become a large, unexpected expense this winter. When the water freezes in your pipes, they may burst. This can lead to water flooding into your home, destroying your valuable property, and requiring costly repairs.
The American Red Cross offers the following tips to avoid frozen pipes this winter:
- Drain water from pipes that you don’t use during the winter – Leaving water in pipes that lead to your swimming pool or sprinklers often leads to frozen pipes.
- Insulate your pipes – Insulation can keep the pipes in the unheated areas of your home, such as the basement, crawl space, attic or garage, from getting cold enough to allow the water to freeze.
- Close your garage door - Keep your garage door closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinets – This will allow heated air to reach the pipes leading to the sink.
- Let water drip – In extreme cold temperatures, even a slight flow of water through a pipe can prevent it from freezing.
- Keep your home warm – Do not set your thermostat below 55 degrees, even if you are out for the day or on a vacation.
If you think you have a frozen pipe that has yet to burst, turn on the faucets and contact us. If a pipe has already burst, shut off the main valve and cut water supply to the house. Do not attempt to thaw pipes with a torch or open flame.
