It is the holiday season. Time for joy, cheer, and.....frozen pipes! The coldest season of the year helps to produce one of the more frustrating home maintenance issues, frozen and busted pipes.How can you prevent this? Mr. Handyman will let you know how to prevent frozen pipes before it's too late.
Here are the top 10 ways to prevent frozen pipes
1. Adding insulation to your home
Consider adding (or replacing existing) insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces. This will be able to maintain higher temperatures in the house and prevent pipes from freezing. (This will also help lower heating costs too!)
2. Add insulation to your pipes
Use pipe insulation on pipes that are close to exterior walls or windows. This helps considerably against freezing.
3. Take out the hose!
Disconnect all gardening hoses before the winter starts. The pressure of frozen water in an exterior water house will expand to your interior plumbing. This will lead to frozen or busted pipes!
4. LEAVE the heat on
Plan on leaving for an extended period of time? Don't let the heat leave with you! Keep the temperature set to at least 55 degrees at all times.
5. Open the cabinets
Open cabinet doors in the kitchen and all bathrooms to allow heat from the home to keep pipes warm.
For professional assistance with getting your home prepared for winter, contact your local Mr. Handyman! Call 877-256-3376 or request service in your area.
Photo Cred: David Boyle on Flickr
6. Close the windows
Close all windows that are located near water pipes.Freezing temperatures outside along with cold drafts increase the chances of your pipes freezing.
7. Weather seal the windows
Prevent cold drafts from freezing pipes by weather sealing your windows for all cracks and loose air coming from outside. (This, too, will lower your heating cost.)
8. Find the main water valve
Locate the main water valve and the valve on your water heater prior to the winter. Knowing this is critical if your pipes freeze.
9. Let It Drip
Probably the oldest trick in the book. Simply allow lukewarm water to drip from your faucet. This helps with reducing the risk of frozen pipes.
10. Use a space heater
We have discussed previously that pipes can be protected with the help of heat. If your pipes are located in a basement with limited or no heat, use a space heater to blow heat over the pipes.