Winter temperatures may be upon us, but there is still time to prepare your home before the first big freeze of the season.
Water has a unique property in that it expands in volume as it freezes. If it happens to freeze inside of a container or a pipeline, the pressure buildup of the expanded ice can cause the container or pipe to burst, resulting in damage and expensive repairs.
How to Protect Your Pipes
To protect your pipes in the winter, wrap exterior hose bibs and exposed pipes with insulation. When expecting a hard freeze, leave cabinet doors open to sinks located on exterior walls, and set your faucets to a very slight drip. Even a small amount of moving water can be sufficient to prevent water from freezing completely in the pipes.
Extended temperatures cold enough to cause pipes to freeze are uncommon in our region, but not impossible. If you are planning to be away from home for an extended period of time this winter, it may not be a good idea to turn the heater completely off while you are away - especially if the region is expecting inclement weather. Leaving the heater on at a reduced temperature, and opening cabinets to encourage warm airflow around pipes may be less expensive than turning the system off and returning home to costly plumbing repairs.
If, after a hard freeze, you turn on your sink and notice drastically reduced water pressure, you may want to suspect a frozen pipe somewhere down the line. If this occurs, your safest option is probably to contact a licensed plumber to assess the situation. If it’s feasible to do so, you may try to
apply heat to the pipe gently with heated towels or a heating pad. Do not use blowtorches or any type of flammable material to attempt to thaw frozen pipes!
Now is a good time to walk around your home to identify any exposed pipes with the potential to freeze and insulate them before the harshest weather arrives. When checking your home, don't forget about your sprinkler system! Sprinkler systems that run during freezing temperatures can create hazardous conditions on roads and sidewalks. To avoid receiving a
water violation for watering during rain or freezing temperatures, make sure your system is set to the "off" position when expecting inclement weather.
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