Preventative Pipe Care for Cold Nights

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Lately, I've been noticing how cold it’s been getting at night. If it gets too cold, your pipes may end up freezing. This can lead to a series of problems. Here are some things that you can do to help prevent freezing pipes!

• Insulate your exposed pipes. Use pipe insulation, caulk or heat tape to wrap your pipes that are exposed. Make sure to not forget crawl spaces, attics, garages or rooftops.
  
• Seal any air leaks. Use caulk to seal any cracks and openings around pipes where they enter your home to block out cold drafts.
  
• Disconnect your outdoor hoses. Make sure you remove your garden hoses from the outdoor water spigots and drain them. You can also close the indoor shut-off valve for that spigot and drain the line if possible.
  
• Cover any outdoor spigots. Use faucet covers or insulating material to wrap the outdoor spigots so they are protected from the cold.
  
• Make sure you maintain a consistent home temperature. Set your thermostat to a consistent temperature for days and nights. Try and go no lower than 55F. 
  
• For those super cold nights (below 32F), allow a slow, steady drip of cold water to run from faucets, especially those on exterior walls. Opening cabinet doors under sinks will allow warmer air to circulate around the pipes as well.
  
• If you are traveling during the cold months, don’t forget to shut off the main water supply if no one will be home. Also, it will be a good idea to open all the faucets after shutting the main supply off to allow the water to drain from the pipes. Most importantly, try and keep the heater on and set the thermostat to no lower than 55F.
  

So, what if your pipes end up freezing? This can lead to several issues. Firstly, you will likely notice no water comes out of the affected faucets. Also, as water freezes, it expands and creates immense pressure inside the pipe. This may lead to bulging, cracking, or even bursting. 

If the pipes burst, you may not notice until the pipes start to thaw and water begins to flood your home. Once flooding occurs, it can lead to damaged floors, walls and personal belongings. This can turn into structural damage to your home and mold growth due to excess moisture.  The average insurance claim for a burst water pipe can reach up to $18,000.

If you notice that a water pipe did freeze, you will want to shut off the main water supply to prevent flooding. Open all the faucets that are connected to that frozen pipe to relieve any pressure that has built up as the ice melts. Please do not use an open flame to thaw the pipes as this can cause a fire. Lastly, make sure you call us immediately so we can come out. We do have an after-hour emergency line for instances like this. Please do not hesitate to call us. We can also come out and do an evaluation of your home and make sure your exposed pipes are insulated so your pipes do not freeze.

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