We might be in the throws of summer, but winter will soon be upon us. Time is flying at the moment and we seem to be going from season to season ultra quickly. When was the last time you did some winter prep on your home? Maybe you had a list of jobs to do last year which you never completed? Is your home ready for the first frost? Let’s take a look at how to protect your pipes from freezing before it’s too late.
It’s Worth The Effort
It is worth the effort. This tiny period of time is well spent in making sure you won’t have to deal with a real problem in the depths of winter. Over a quarter of a million homes experience frozen pipes each winter. Not only are frozen pipes expensive to repair, your home and contents may be ruined. In a matter of minutes, a one-eighth inch crack can release 250 gallons of water and disrupt your life in ways you may never imagine.
Sub-zero temperatures and cold winds can wreak havoc on your water pipes if they’re not protected. What can you do now to prepare for that first frost to ensure your pipes don’t freeze and burst this year? Let’s look at how to protect your pipes from freezing.
Locate Your Valve
To begin with you need to know where the main water shut off valve is to your home. Do you know where it is? Some people call it a stopcock. This will enable you to shut the water off to the house should one of the pipes freeze and burst. The quicker you can get the water shut off, the less damage will be done. This will also give you time to call the plumber for help.
Where Are Your Pipes?
Next on our list, find out where the water pipes are located in your home. In most cases, they will be in the crawl space under your home or possibly in your attic. Once you’ve found exposed pipes, wrap them with insulation. Additionally, the more protective insulation you can wrap around them, the less likely they are to freeze and burst.
Heated Cables
In extremely cold temperatures, you may also want to use thermostatically controlled heat cables. These can be wrapped around the insulation and should only be used according to manufacturer’s instructions for installing them. Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. independently tests and approves these cables; be sure to use only those which have been UL approved.
Seal Those Leaks
Take the time to seal up any leaks around the pipes, which may be allowing cold air into the area where the pipes are exposed. This could mean checking around electrical wiring, which comes through the walls, dryer vents and the pipes themselves. Use flexible insulation, caulk, or a can of expandable foam insulation. Furthermore, by blocking as much air as possible, you’ll lessen the chance of the pipes bursting.
Get Outdoors Ready
Disconnect and remove any garden hoses that won’t be used during the winter. Turn the valve off to the spigot and drain all of the water from the faucet. If you must leave a faucet active for whatever reason, remove the garden hose between uses. You can also put an insulated cap over the faucet to keep it from freezing.
Trickle Treatment
When the temperatures are expected to get especially frigid, leave a trickle of hot and cold water running, in at least one sink that is on an outside wall. This may be just enough to avoid freezing pipes.
Warm It Up
Next up on our list of how to protect your pipes from freezing is keeping your cabinets open. Allow cabinet doors with un-insulated pipes under it to remain open. This will allow the warm air from the house to circulate and heat the pipes. Keeping them from freezing.
Turn It Up
Keep the thermostat to your home set no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit even if you’re not going to be home. Then ask family or a neighbour to check on your home periodically while you’re gone to ensure the temperature doesn’t fall too low.
In conclusion, no one wants to experience a burst water pipe. By getting ready for the first frost, you’ll be well on your way to avoiding one. Use this knowledge of how to protect your pipes from freezing and you’re ready for winter!
