Any time of year is a good time to actively prepare your home for winter, especially if yours is prone to frozen pipes. In fact, if you’re doing the work yourself, you’ll be much more comfortable working in unheated spaces during the warm weather months.
So, what’s the secret to frozen pipe prevention? There are no secrets at all, just some good common-sense advice:
- Make sure all pipes exposed to sub-freezing temperatures are well insulated.
- During the winter months, open your lower kitchen and bathroom cabinets to circulate warm air around pipes that are near exterior walls.
- If you’ll be away from home for a few days or longer, set your thermostat to 65, and turn off the main water valve.
Let’s say, however, a water pipe already has frozen – now what? Start by relieving pressure within the pipe by turning on the connecting faucet.
If the pipe has not yet ruptured and you can get to it, it needs to be thawed immediately. Don’t use a blowtorch or other high heat method to thaw the pipe. Aside from being a fire hazard, such measures can cause the pipe to crack. Hair dryers, heat lamps, and portable space heaters are all better suited to the task. Start closest to the nearest faucet and work your way slowly down the pipe line.
If you suspect that a pipe has burst, or notice a leak, turn off the main water supply and contact Anthony’s Plumbing, Heating and Air for our professional plumbing assistance.
Or, you can check one item off your “worry list” by requesting our professional pipe insulation service. We use high quality material on all pipes subject to extreme cold: in your garage, basement, crawl space, and elsewhere. Contact Anthony’s whenever you need high-quality, dependable home comfort service.
