Winter can be a beautiful season, but it can also bring its share of challenges, particularly when it comes to your home’s plumbing. One common issue that homeowners face during the colder months is frozen pipes. Frozen pipes can be dangerous because, as the water inside them freezes, it expands and can cause the pipes to burst. This can lead to extensive water damage and costly repairs. In order to prevent your pipes from freezing, it’s important to take a proactive approach and follow some simple but effective prevention strategies.
1. Insulate Your Pipes
One of the most effective ways to prevent your pipes from freezing is to insulate them. This can help to keep the heat in and the cold out, which is especially important for pipes that are located in unheated areas of your home, such as basements or attics. There are a few different ways you can insulate your pipes, including using materials like foam rubber or fiberglass sleeves to wrap them. It’s important to properly measure the length and diameter of your pipes before purchasing insulation, as you’ll want to make sure you have enough material to fully cover them. In addition, be sure to use tape or a similar adhesive to hold the insulation in place and prevent it from sliding off.
2. Keep Your Thermostat Set To a Consistent Temperature
It’s important to keep your thermostat set to a consistent temperature, especially during the colder months. This helps to maintain a consistent flow of warm air throughout your home, which can prevent your pipes from freezing. If you’re going to be away from home for an extended period of time, be sure to set your thermostat to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit to help prevent your pipes from freezing. You should also avoid turning your thermostat down too low at night, as this can cause your pipes to freeze.
3. Let Your Faucets Drip
Allowing a slow, steady stream of water to flow through your faucets can help to prevent your pipes from freezing. This is because the flowing water helps to keep the pipes from getting too cold. To let your faucets drip, simply turn them on to a very low flow setting. Be sure to open the faucets all the way to allow for the maximum amount of flow. You may want to do this for all of the faucets in your home, as it can help to prevent freezing in multiple areas.
4. Keep Your Garage Door Closed
If you have pipes running through your garage, be sure to keep the garage door closed during the winter months. This can help to keep the pipes warm and prevent them from freezing. If you don’t have a garage or don’t have pipes running through it, you should still be sure to keep the door closed whenever possible to help keep the cold out and the heat in.
5. Contact a Professional Water Restoration Company
If you do end up with frozen or burst pipes on your property, it’s important to contact a professional water restoration company like United Water Restoration Group. Our team has the knowledge and experience to quickly and effectively repair any damage caused by frozen or burst pipes. We can also help to identify the cause of the issue and make recommendations for preventing it from happening again in the future.
Call United Water Restoration Group for Freezing Pipes
Don’t let frozen or burst pipes ruin your winter – contact United Water Restoration Group for fast and reliable service. Our team is here to help you get your home back to normal as quickly as possible.