How To Keep Your Pipes From Freezing

Most people fear the warmer months, and the risks of fire damage. But, the winter can be just as daunting. In the winter, cold temperatures can cause your pipes to freeze and become blocked with ice. This is a huge problem as it can cause damage to your plumbing system and result in costly repairs. To prevent frozen pipes, it’s important to take the necessary precautions. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how you can keep your pipes from freezing, as well as how to unfreeze them should they become blocked. By taking these preventative measures, you can help protect your home from costly plumbing damages caused by frozen pipes.

Shut Off Water To Your Home

When temperatures drop to freezing or lower, it’s important to shut off the water in your home to prevent pipes from bursting and causing costly damage. This is a simple process that involves locating the main shutoff valve in your home and turning it off. In some homes, this is usually located near the water meter, while in others it can be found in the basement or near an outside wall. Knowing where the shutoff valve is and how to use it can save you money in the long run if your pipes do freeze and burst. It also helps to know where your emergency shutoff valves are in case of any pipe damage.

Remove Any Hose From Outside Faucets

If you live in a colder climate, then it’s important to remove any hoses that are connected to your outside faucets. This helps prevent your pipes from freezing during extreme cold weather, which can cause significant pipe damage. To do this, turn off the outdoor water supply and unscrew the hose from the faucet. If possible, store the hose inside during the winter season.

Insulate Exposed Pipes

When temperatures drop, it is important to make sure you insulate any exposed pipes in your home. Uninsulated pipes are more prone to freezing, which can cause pipe damage and a host of other issues. To protect your pipes from freezing, wrap them with insulation or heat tape. You can purchase pre-slit foam pipe insulation at most hardware stores and use it to cover the length of the exposed pipes in your home. If the pipe is close to a cold air source, such as an outside wall, make sure to use extra insulation around those areas. Additionally, ensure that any cracks or gaps in the walls around the pipes are sealed with caulk or expanding foam to prevent cold air from entering. Doing so will reduce the risk of pipe damage and keep your home’s plumbing system functioning properly.

Seal Cracks & Holes In Walls Near Exposed Pipes

Colder temperatures can cause a variety of problems in and around your home, one of them being frozen pipes. Sealing cracks and holes in walls near exposed pipes is a key step in preventing pipe damage caused by freezing. If you notice any cracks or holes around your pipes, you should seal them right away.

Start by getting some quality caulk and filler to fix any cracks or holes in the walls near exposed pipes. You’ll also need to purchase insulation foam for the larger openings. Make sure to use a waterproof caulk when sealing the cracks and holes. This will ensure that no water can seep in and cause further pipe damage.

Once you have the materials, begin by cleaning the area around the cracks and holes to make sure that it is free from dust and debris. Use a putty knife to scrape off any paint that might be peeling or chipping away from the wall.

Now, use a caulking gun to fill any small cracks with caulk and then use insulation foam for any larger openings. The caulk will help prevent water from seeping in while the insulation foam will help keep your pipes insulated during the colder months. If you’re not able to prevent the water from seeping in, then the next best thing is to immediately contact a company that can extract the water and dehumidify the space.

Finally, let the caulk and foam dry completely before testing it out. If everything looks good, you can move onto insulating other exposed pipes in your home. Sealing cracks and holes in walls near exposed pipes is a simple task that can help prevent costly pipe damage caused by freezing temperatures.

Set Your Thermostat No Lower Than 55 Degrees

When temperatures drop to dangerously cold levels, your pipes are at risk of freezing and potentially bursting, leading to costly pipe damage. One of the best ways to prevent this is to keep your thermostat set no lower than 55 degrees, even if you are not in your home. This will help ensure that the pipes have a constant source of warmth and will prevent them from freezing and eventually bursting. If you have an area of your home with exposed pipes, such as a basement or attic, you may want to increase the temperature even further to 65-70 degrees to ensure the pipes stay warm. Keeping your thermostat set above 55 degrees should help to minimize any potential pipe damage caused by freezing temperatures.