Tips to Make Sure Your Pipes Don’t Freeze
It’s winter time in the northern hemisphere. This means super cold and freezing temperatures, especially at night. Outdoor plumbing pipes are especially subject to damage in these winter months. That is because the liquid within them freezes and expands. This in turn causes cracks in the pipe itself. The outcome can be very damaging to your home and be very expensive to fix.
Recently, a plumber in Melbourne Florida catted with us and gave us the following tips to prevent damage to your pipes. These methods have been proven to work over the years and he wants to pass them along to us.
Constant Drip
If you allow your faucet to drip over night this will keep the water moving and prevent it from freezing. Yes, your water bill may go up a few dollars per month but it sure beats a $2,000 repair bill from the plumber.
Turning Off Water at the Main
If you turn off the water at the main and then let the pipes drain they will be empty. Therefore, there will be no water freeze. This usually isn’t considered a first line of defense because it is very inconvenient not to have water in your home when you need it. But if you can turn it off and go to bed without needing water for 8 hours, this is a solid move.
Wrap Outdoor Fixtures
If you have a faucet or pipes exposed to the open air, it may be worth wrapping it in some cloth and then using a string or zip tie to keep it in place. This may be just enough protection against the freezing cold.
Keep Air Flowing
If you can keep air flowing through your home then the chances of pipes behind the walls or attic freezing becomes less. There are hundreds of feet of plumbing in your home and this method helps with about 75% of it.
