Now that we’re well into winter, the freezing temperatures are fully upon us. With that in mind, we are all determined to keep ourselves warm while spending the season with our friends and families. All too often, though, homeowners neglect to take the proper steps to keep a vital component of their home warm – their plumbing system. In the wintertime, your home’s pipes have the ability to freeze and burst, causing potential large-scale water damage to your property. The good news is that frozen pipes are often avoidable if you implement some easy measures now. Here are some of the ways to prevent your pipes from freezing this winter.
Release the Pressure
At bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, we will never tell you that a dripping faucet is a good thing – except this time of year! When pipes freeze and burst, it’s usually due to the immense pressure between the ice blockage and the closed faucet. A blockage forms when motionless water settles and succumbs to the temperatures. To help both release the pressure and keep things moving, periodically allow your faucet to drip slowly. It won’t waste a large amount of water or money, and will save you big-time versus the cost of burst pipe repair and cleanup.
Open Your Cabinets and Doors
The temperature difference underneath a sink or inside of a cabinet compared to the rest of your home can vary drastically. Because of this, pipes underneath your sinks are some of the most likely to freeze. Wherever you have plumbing stored underneath your sinks or inside of a cabinet, open the doors and allow the warm air to circulate through on especially cold days and nights.
Close Your Garage Door Right Away
Whenever you leave or come home, close your garage door right away, especially if you have plumbing components located there. One of the easiest ways to freeze your pipes is to allow them to be continuously exposed to the elements. By leaving your garage door open to the brisk air, you’re doing just that. Keep your pipes warm and your garage door shut!
Take the Proper Steps If You’re Going Out of Town
If you’re leaving town for any length of time this winter, there are a few precautions you can take to ensure the safety of your pipes while you’re away. For starters, open your cabinets as mentioned previously; they won’t be in anyone’s way, and exposing the pipes to the warmer air throughout your home will be beneficial. Next, avoid turning off your heat completely. Even though you’re not there to enjoy it, your pipes will freeze if temperatures inside your home drop too low. Keep your home’s temperature set at 50 degrees or above at all times.
Call bluefrog Plumbing + Drain
No matter the time of day or extent of the issue, the expert plumbers at bluefrog Plumbing + Drain are available to you this winter if you experience frozen or burst pipes. Contact us for around-the-clock service at your nearest location!
Image by Renate Micallef for Shutterstock
