‘Tis the season for Burst Pipes

Is your home prepared for “frozen pipe temperatures?” Are you sure?

Once water starts freezing in your home’s plumbing, it begins a pressure buildup that can cause your pipes to rupture. Leaking burst pipes can cost you thousands of dollars in water damage repair and mold remediation.

Your Winterizing Checklist for Preventing Burst Pipes!

1. Winterizing Your Home’s Outdoor Plumbing

Take these steps to prepare your outdoor plumbing before freezing temperatures arrive.

•Drain your sprinkler system. If there’s water left in the pipes or any sprinkler heads, it could freeze and cause the pipes in your sprinkler system to bust.

•Shut off the water to your outdoor faucets. Locate the valves that control the water flow to your outdoor faucets, and shut the water off there. Then turn on your outdoor faucets so that they can drain.

• Insulate your outdoor faucets. Covering the taps with waterproof, outdoor faucet socks will help protect them from icy winds and prevent freezing. Never attempt to insulate your faucets with any material that will absorb water and freeze, like towels or newspaper.

2. Winterizing Your Home’s Indoor Plumbing

These prevent measures will will help protect your pipes during the coldest days and nights of the year.

•Seal air leaks around your home. Air leaks can occur in numerous locations, but some easy places to correct them are around doors and windows. Use caulk to seal gaps around stationary windows and weatherstrips on doors and windows that move.

•Insulate unprotected pipes with polyethylene foam insulation on top of a layer of electrical tape. There are several places where your home’s pipes could be exposed to cold temperatures, including the crawl space, attic, and garage. Some pipes might also run through exterior walls from your home’s interior.

•Update your home’s insulation where needed. If your home is especially cold above the crawl space, or if it loses a lot of heat through the attic, consult an insulation expert. They can help you achieve a home that’s not only more comfortable but also more energy efficient.

3. Preventing Frozen Pipes During a Cold Snap

Typically, the weather needs to be about 20 degrees Fahrenheit or below before pipes will freeze. Once you start temperatures in the twenties, get prepared to take the following measure to prevent frozen pipes.

•Make sure all of your windows and doors are firmly shut.

•Keep your garage door closed

•Keep your home’s temperature at 55 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

•Open your kitchen and bathroom cabinets so warmth from your home can reach the plumbing

•Let your faucets run at a trickle

•Make sure you know where your home’s main water shut-off valve is in case a pipe burst.

Blog credit to: The Rooter Works Plumbing & Drains – https://www.therooterworks.com/blog/2021/november/winterize-your-plumbing-your-must-have-checklist/