Not only is it cold outside, but it’s also freezing!
It’s not uncommon for pipes to freeze during the winter in certain climates. So it’s important to know how to keep your pipes from freezing in order to prevent serious damage to your home.
But you can’t just call a plumber every time your pipes start to freeze. You need to know what to do on your own to keep your pipes from freezing in the first place.
This blog post will look at a few ways you can prevent your pipes from freezing in the winter.
Why Are Frozen Pipes Dangerous?
Frozen pipes are a problem for a couple of reasons. They can create an inconvenience but, more seriously, can cause major damage to your property.
Lack of Running Water
The most obvious danger of a frozen pipe is the inability to access running water. This can interfere with your ability to do everyday tasks such as washing the dishes or taking a shower.
Potential to Burst
A bigger problem can occur when pipes freeze and then burst. Once the water in the pipe freezes, the pipe can burst in two ways. As water freezes, it expands. And that expansion can actually crack the pipe.
In addition, the pressure created between the closed faucet and the blockage at the freeze point can build up and cause the pipe to rupture.
The winter cold will make your pipes freeze if the precautions we mentioned here aren’t taken seriously
How Do You Keep Your Pipes From Freezing In The Winter?
Let water drip
On a snowy day, the last thing you want to do is go outside to shovel snow. Worse yet, you don’t want to deal with broken pipes, no water, and damage to your home. Instead, why not just let the water drip from the faucet?
The idea here is simple – moving water is less likely to freeze than static water. A pond will freeze before a stream does.
So one easy thing to do to keep your pipes from freezing is just to open the faucet and let the water slowly – very slowly – drip. This tends to keep the water inside the pipe from freezing. It’s a temporary solution, and it wastes a bit of water. But, it’s a lot cheaper than a burst pipe and the resulting water damage.
What Should You Do To Keep Your Pipes From Freezing?
Use heat tape
Almost everyone would rather have fun in the snow than stay inside and work on frozen pipes. So try this one-time solution then go have fun.
This one is pretty easy to understand. Warm pipes won’t freeze. You can keep at-risk pipes warm with heat tape.
“At-risk” pipes are pipes that run along exterior walls. Usually, pipes that are buried sufficiently or are in the basement won’t freeze quite as fast because the ground maintains a temperature above freezing no matter the weather.
Once you’ve identified pipes to wrap in heat tape, make sure you buy a good quality tape. Try to get a set that includes an automatic thermostat. This will ensure the pipe maintains a constant temperature – neither too cold nor too hot.
Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s installation directions when wrapping your pipes. Remember, water and electricity don’t mix well – don’t wrap pipes that are leaking or already cracked.
What To Do To Keep Your Pipes From Freezing?
Insulate pipes
Winter weather presents plenty of problems for the homeowner. Frozen pipes don’t have to be one of them. Decide today to solve that problem once and for all.
Pipes will only freeze if they’re exposed to air that’s below a certain temperature – usually 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Properly insulated pipes do not freeze.
Start by making sure to seal any air leaks near your pipes. Cold air is not your pipes’ friend.
There are many ways to insulate your pipes. Choose one that fits your budget that will still do the job properly.
Insulating foam wrap is pretty easy to install but will take some time and patience to install correctly. However, once it’s done, you’ll likely never have to worry about frozen pipes again.
How To Keep Your Pipes From Freezing In Cold Weather
Your pipes are an essential part of your home – they bring you hot or cold water. In the winter, if you don’t take proper precautions to prevent your pipes from freezing in your home, it can have a major impact on your water and your home.
It’s important to note that the winter cold will make your pipes freeze if the precautions we mentioned here aren’t taken seriously. There’s no reason to lose your water supply and risk flooding your home, causing a great deal of damage – especially when taking the steps we recommend in this post is pretty straightforward.
Winterize your pipes
If you’re concerned that pipes in your home might freeze (and you should be), follow the tips in this article to help keep the water flowing. Beyond that, just know that we offer a variety of pipe care and thawing solutions, so you don’t have to worry about your pipes freezing in the cold weather.
• Keys Enterprises, Inc. offers 24/7 emergency service.
• Our technicians are reliable and professional, and fully-trained to handle any plumbing emergency.
Winterizing your pipes will keep your home safe, warm, and free from frozen pipes
We hope that you will use our article for a little prevention and keep your pipes from freezing this winter! You might also consider an HVAC system tune-up done before winter. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us anytime by calling our office at (240) 970-2703.
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