This Is How You Protect Your Pipes From the Big Freeze
Just like you bundle up with layers of clothing during the winter months, do the same for your plumbing. Snow, ice, and cold temperatures will freeze your pipes into ice and burst when you turn on the faucet. Prevent thousands of dollars in plumbing repairs by protecting your pipes from the big freeze.
Insulate Exposed Plumbing
Visible outdoor pipes are more prone to freezing than pipes hidden from view. Cover those pipes with foam insulation, heat tape, or heat cables. Shield exposed valves, handles, and faucets with a faucet cover, and insulate exposed pipes in the crawlspace.
Insulate exposed indoor pipes in the basement, attic, and garage. Of the indoor rooms, these rooms are the coolest. Insulation is a bonus if there is occupancy in those rooms because heat will travel there. If the rooms contain storage, insulation is mandatory.
Let the Faucet Water Drip
Moving water is less likely to freeze than standing water. Turn on the faucet when the temperature is below 30 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Adjust it until a thin stream of water comes out. Keep the stream going until the temperature is above 30 degrees and then turn off the faucet. Let the water drip again when temperatures return to less than 30 degrees.
Keep Indoor Temperatures Warm
Indoor temperatures must be at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit to keep pipes from freezing. Maintain that temperature no matter how cold it gets outside or when you’re not at home. If you have trouble keeping your home warm, contact Dogtown Heating, Air & Plumbing for a routine checkup.
Open Cabinet Doors
Warm up exposed pipes hidden behind kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room cabinets by opening the cabinet door. As your heater heats the room, some heat enters the cabinet. It warms up exposed pipes, connecting pipes inside the wall and the outdoor plumbing. Move cleaning products, chemicals, and belongings to another cabinet.
Close Garage Doors
If the garage has someone occupying the space, a heat source keeps the person and the plumbing warm. Otherwise, the garage is a cold area of the house. No matter the situation, keep the garage door shut. An open garage is an enormous source of unwanted cold entering the house. Closing it keeps the warmth inside.
Trust Dogtown Heating, Air & Plumbing for all your heating, cooling, and plumbing repairs and installations in Paxton, IL and the surrounding areas. We also tackle boilers, indoor air quality, and mini-splits. We offer financing options, rebates, specials, and 24/7 HVAC service to cover emergencies. Contact Dogtown Heating, Air & Plumbing for more information.
