Thursday, October 22nd, 2020
7 ways not to get stuck with frozen pipes this winter
Now that fall is here, it’s time to talk about pipes. Specifically, how to prepare your pipes for winter. It’s a critical to do a check of your home to make sure your pipes are in top shape and ready for the colder months ahead. Should they burst when they freeze, you’ll likely be looking at a very costly repair.
It doesn’t take long to walk around your property and check your pipes. To make it easier, use our checklist below, created to help you do a thorough and effective inspection, so you can have peace of mind come wintertime, knowing your pipes are ready for the cold weather.
Start outside. First, make sure to drain your sprinkler supply lines. It’s also time to drain the pool (if you haven’t already). Go ahead and drain and put away hoses, close inside valve bibs and open outside bibs so water can drain.
Do a walk around. Make sure to walk around your home and look for any cracks that area liable to let cold air in and potentially cause your pipes to freeze. These cracks will need to be sealed. You can do this with spray foam or by caulking.
Now, check indoors. Take a good look inside the house starting with places where you’ve got water supply lines in unheated areas. Usually, these areas include the basement, under cabinets in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry area, and the garage as well.
If these areas have exposed and unprotected pipes, it’s a good idea to fit them with a pipe sleeve or add heat tape or heat cable to insulate them. You could also wrap fabric around the pipes, provided they are in areas that won’t go below freezing.
Newspaper and thick plastic bags can work in a pinch, but like fabric, you’ll need something more substantial if the pipes are in an area that can drop below freezing.
Inspect the HVAC. It’s a good idea to make sure your HVAC and furnace are working now rather than waiting until the temps drop any lower. If your heating goes out when it’s needed most it won’t just make things uncomfortable, it can cause your pipes to freeze.
Keep cabinet doors open. When cold air strikes, even if it’s warm and cozy in your home, open the doors to the cabinets under your sinks in the kitchen and bathrooms so the pips can get a little warmth. This can help prevent them from freezing.
Run a little water. It’s an old remedy – and a good one. During a bad cold spell, turn on the faucet and let a little water run. While many think it’s the heat in the water that helps prevent pipes from freezing, it has more to do with relieving pressure in the pipes.
Going out of town? There’s nothing like a Florida getaway in February. While many of us will be staying home due to the pandemic this winter, if you are headed out of town, make sure you turn your water off at the shut-off valve and drain the pipes.
Still not sure if your pipes are ready for winter? Give the team at Allied-Reddi Rooter a call or Contact us. We’ll inspect your home’s pipe system and make sure it’s up to the task before winter arrives. We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service. You can follow us on Facebook, @Allied Reddi-Rooter for the latest tips or to ask us a question.