How to Avoid Frozen Pipes

10/14/2019 (Permalink)

Consider purchasing heat tape to wrap around pipes on exterior walls

One of the most destructive flooding accidents to occur in the home is a pipe burst due to freezing. Frozen pipes are most common during the winter, and often happen overnight or when the family is away due to fluctuating or sudden drops in temperature. When a pipe freeze occurs, a crack can form, spewing hundreds of gallons of water when left unnoticed and causing severe flood damage to your Auburn, KY home. Fortunately this costly incident is entirely preventable with proper preparation.

Basic Steps

As winter approaches and temperatures begin to dip below freezing, it is important to take proper precautions to prevent the occurrence of frozen pipes before they have a chance to burst. Some simple steps you can take include:

• Ensuring proper heat ventilation – Some pipes are located behind cabinets that prevent heat from reaching them, so ensure you keep cabinets open during the winter
  
• Allowing dripping faucets – Allowing water to continuously flow through your pipes is very effective in ensuring pipes do not freeze, and it only takes a small drip to accomplish this
  
• Prepping outside facets – Remove your garden hose, ensure faucets are off, and if possible, shut off flow to outside pipes via an indoor valve
  
• Insulating problem pipes – Reinforce insulation around pipes running through attics and crawl spaces, and consider purchasing heat tape to wrap around pipes on exterior walls
  
  

Additional Points

Remember to think about the possibility of frozen pipes well before winter strikes, as even one random cold night could damage your pipes. Resist the temptation to allow your thermostat to drop dramatically at night or when you are away, as this could exasperate harsh weather conditions such as heavy snow and unexpected freezing temperatures. Finally, should flooding occur from a pipe burst, consult a water cleanup and restoration company to minimize damage from water and mold. Pipe bursts are a major and costly inconvenience to home owners, but proper preparation can prevent an otherwise difficult situation.