Prevent Frozen Pipes

‘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/

NEW Employee Spotlight: Emma Barth

Get To Know Our Graphic Designer, Emma!

Emma is originally from Springboro, Ohio, but currently lives in Montgomery with her boyfriend CJ and their doggie Graham. Emma has also previously lived in Virginia Beach, Virginia so the move to Ohio sucked, because she went from living 15min away from the beach to the state that has all four seasons within a week!

Emma’s biggest blessings in life are her family and friends! Any free time she gets is usually spent with them, swimming at her parents pool, eating out, or staying in and playing board games all night!

Emma is a big fan of art. When she’s not graphic designing, she is usually finding something else to create! From coasters, clay pieces, baby nursery murals, to wooden Christmas decorations and cakes, Emma loves anything and everything art!

Emma comes from a very patriotic family. Her Dad served in the US Navy for 20 years which had a big impact on her. She loves everything red, white and blue, and anything to do with the ocean. To her, nothing is better than long walks on the beach! Go Navy! Hooyah!

Emma loves to travel. She will go anywhere to get out of Ohio……If there is any form of water then the trip is automatically better haha!

And lastly, Emma is such a happy go lucky person! If she isn’t smiling or acting goofy then something is up!

Buzzy, Welcome to our Team!

Buzzy was born in Summerville, South Carolina where he currently lives. He has 3 children, a daughter that recently graduated from University of Tennessee and just moved on her own. A middle son, currently at Coastal Carolina and the baby, a Junior in high school. Buzzy and Karen have been married now close to 30 years next April, as he says the best thing that ever happened to him.

Over 15 years of radio sales and 4 selling billboards lead to owning his own fundraising discount book for 5 years in early 2010-15. He joined RSVP in the Carolinas back in 2018 and has worked with various owners around the Carolinas and Ohio before joining RSVP-Ohio/Kentucky. He loves talking to new clients and helping grow their bottom line with advertising and has seen some great successes in clients using RSVP’s proven program.

Buzzy enjoys spending time with his wife on long rides and some overnight trips and looks forward to more travel in 2022 and hopefully get back on the golf course. He is quickly learning more about home construction and renovations with his wife with their major home upgrades. The Honey Do list never ends.