Tips to Keep Your Pipes from Freezing and Bursting This Winter

As the temperature drops, many of us would bundle up inside our homes and drink warm beverages to keep warm. But you’re not the only one who’s feeling the cold. Your pipes also need protection from the winter weather. If not, they can freeze and explode if not; thus, resulting to water damage.

Being informed and prepared may help you avoid the mess, expenses and damages that come with it. Here’s what you need to know to keep your pipes from freezing and bursting this winter.

Drain your pipes

It is important to drain your pipes if you’re going on a vacation, even for just a couple of days. Pipes burst when you least expect it, and you don’t want that to happen while you’re gone. Consider turning off the main shut-off valve before you leave. Then, turn on the tap and allow the water to run until the pipes are emptied.

Open cabinet doors

Leave the cabinet doors open in the bathroom and kitchen. This allows heated air to circulate around the pipes. Place an electric heater in front of the cabinet for added protection.

Wrap the pipes

Plumbing pipes that are located in unheated areas are at risk of freezing. Consider wrapping or insulating your pipes in the garage, attic, crawlspaces and those that are located against exterior walls. Bubble wrap, plastic foam, trash bags, newspapers or even rags can provide protection. While this step alone doesn’t prevent freezing, it helps slow down the freezing process.

Turn on the faucets

Let indoor faucets drip at night, when the temperature is coldest. This helps keep the water moving through the pipes and keeps it from freezing. You don’t need to waste gallons and gallons of water to do that. Even a trickle of water can help prevent frozen pipes.

 

Have You Disconnected Your Garden Hose?

With temperatures dropping and snow in the air, it is exceptionally important to detach your garden hose from the spigot.  Your garden hose can freeze if left outdoors, especially if water remains inside.

When winter temperature plummets, your garden hose becomes vulnerable to freezing. Water inside the hose can easily freeze. This weakens the lining of the hose and causes holes to form in the walls of the pipe. The results can be disastrous if you are unaware of the situation or worse, you’re out of the house. There is nothing more frustrating than waking up to a cold winter morning and find that your house is flooded because of a burst pipe. You don’t want that to happen, don’t you?

It’s easy to overlook it after using the hose all summer. Be sure to tighten the faucet and pack away your garden hose until warm weather returns. Your winter should be full of family get-togethers and festivities, not plumbing emergencies and massive bill at hand.

Winterize your outdoor faucets

Your home plumbing could pay a big price if it isn’t prepared for winter. Disconnecting the hose this winter can save you thousands.

1. Close the shut-off valve that controls the flow of water to the outdoor faucet. These valves are usually found in the basement, crawl spaces or under the sink.
2. Open the faucet and let any residual water drain out of the pipe and through the hose.
3. Disconnect the hose from exterior faucet. Store them indoors. You can place it in the basement or any warm room inside your home. Remove any kinks as they can cause holes in the lining of the hose.
4. Install an exterior, insulated faucet jacket after disconnecting the hose. This will protect the outdoor faucet from freezing temperature.

If you want to use the outdoor faucet again in spring, all you need to do is to open the valve. But be sure that faucet is turned off before opening the valve.