Being a homeowner means having a never ending honey-do list. And with work, home, school, and social responsibilities, some tasks inevitably end up on the back burner. However, there are some things you just shouldn’t ignore – and winterizing hour home’s plumbing pipes from freezing should be near the top of the list.
Even if you didn’t get around to checking this one off your list in the fall, it’s never too late to ward off disaster. Here’s how:
Turn Faucets On
If outdoor temps are expected to drop to or below freezing, turn a few faucets on to a slow drip to keep the water moving through your plumbing system. Doing so will slow down and even prevent the freezing process. Be sure to check on the faucets every now and then and look for signs of leaks.
Open Cabinet Doors
Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors that cover plumbing, especially those near or against an exterior wall. The warm air in your home will circulate throughout the space and hopefully prevent those pipes from freezing.
Insulate Pipes
If you haven’t done so already, insulate exposed plumbing pipes located in unheated areas of your home like the basement or garage, or those located near exterior walls. If you suspect that uninsulated pipes have begun to freeze, wrap them in a towel and carefully pour hot water on the towel to help loosen accumulating ice and to get water moving again.
Use Hot Air
If the hot towel trick isn’t cutting it, use a hairdryer or portable space heater to blow hot air directly on the pipe. Never use anything that produces flames, like a blow torch, as it can cause severe damage to your pipes and put your home at risk of a fire.
Shut the Water Off
If your pipes have already frozen, shut off the main water supply immediately and close external water sources such as outdoor faucets. Doing so will help prevent pipes from bursting and, when they do thaw, you won’t find water flooding your plumbing system and worse, your home.
Cracked and burst pipes can be a real pain in the wallet too. There’s the cost of repair or even pipe replacement. There’s the disruption in your water service. And there’s always the potential for water damage to the area and possessions near the burst pipes. To help prevent frozen pipes or for fast action should that problem befall you, Norhio Plumbing is on the job and ready to serve.
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