As winter weather approaches, take some preventive measures to avoid damage to your home. A frozen pipe bursting can lead to expensive repairs in just a few short minutes. Here are a few ways to prevent them:
Interior
- Keep your house temperature at 68 degrees or higher, even if you’re leaving the house for an extended period of time.
- Open cabinet doors below sinks to allow heat from the home to circulate.
- Locate all shut-off valves in your home and make sure they work
- Seal any gaps around the home where cold air may penetrate and become in contact with piping. In the severe cold, even a tiny opening can let in enough cold air to cause a pipe to freeze. (Dryer vents, windows, doors etc)
Exterior
- Identify areas where pipes are on outside walls, ceilings, attics, etc.
- Disconnect all gardening hoses and install covers on all outside faucets.
- Turn off and drain all standard outside hose bibs.
- Wrap pipes nearest exterior walls with pipe insulation or with heating tape. This can prevent freezing, especially for interior pipes that run along outside walls.
- If you plan to be away from home for an extended period of time, shut off water supply valves.
