In a perfect world, winter would look like the majestic wonderland we often see in postcards, with just enough freshly fallen snow to set the stage for a warm, relaxing evening at home.
Unfortunately, Mother Nature has had other plans this winter, including extreme arctic cold blasts that you’re all too familiar with. So once again we’re reminded of how important it is to bring our pets indoors, bundle up, and not over-exert ourselves during this frigid weather.
Protect Your Home from Frozen and Burst Pipes This Winter
What we don’t often hear is how to protect our home and prevent hundreds – if not thousands – of dollars in damage from frozen and burst pipes.
Ideally, homeowners wouldn’t wait until mid-January to weatherproof their water pipes. But, sometimes that “honey-do” list gets put on the back burner. So if you’ve not yet insulated the pipes in your basement, garage, crawlspace or any other area that is exposed to below-freezing temps, it’s not too late to do so.
In the meantime, you can keep pipes from freezing in exterior facing walls – like those under your kitchen or bathroom sink – by circulating warm air around the pipes. Open your lower cabinet doors or run a space heater in an unheated area. Just make sure to turn the space heater off before you go to bed or leave the house. And know where the main water supply shut off valve is located should a pipe freeze and burst. The faster you can stop the flow of water, the less damage it can do to your home.
Essential Tips to Prevent Costly Pipe Damage During Extreme Cold Weather
If you suddenly have little to no water coming from a faucet or shower head with no apparent explanation, you might have a frozen pipe. Keep the faucet open to relieve pressure within the line and (assuming the suspected pipe is accessible) carefully thaw it. Pipes prone to freezing are those located in exterior walls and where water supply lines enter your home. Apply heat to the frozen section of the pipe using a portable space heater, electric heating pad, or hair dryer. It’s important to thaw the pipe slowly to prevent damage. Do not use any open flame devices.
If the pipe is not easily accessible or you suspect that it might already have burst, give us a call and we’ll get right to work on your behalf. We can also insulate all exposed pipes for you if you don’t have the time or inclination to do so yourself.
At Norhio Plumbing, one of our goals is to help you enjoy the winter season, and not have to worry about what kind of damage it can do to your home or budget.
