Freeze-Proof Your Home: 8 Tips to Prevent Frozen Pipes
It’s that time of year again when temperatures start to plummet, and homeowners have to worry about their pipes freezing. As the colder temperatures begin to creep in, it’s essential to ensure that your pipes don’t freeze. If the water in your pipes freezes, it can cause them to burst, leading to costly repairs. While you can do a few things to help prevent your pipes from freezing, it’s always a good idea to be prepared if they do. Here are eight tips for preventing frozen pipes in your home!
1. Insulate Your Pipes
One of the essential things you can do to prevent frozen pipes is to insulate them. Without insulation, your pipes are at a greater risk of freezing, especially during winter when temperatures outside are at their coldest levels. By having a plumber come and insulate your pipes, you can minimize this risk and keep your pipes in good working condition for longer.
Not only will this save you money on potential repairs, but it will also give you peace of mind knowing that your pipes are less likely to freeze and cause problems. So, if you’re looking for a way to prevent frozen pipes, get in touch with High 5 Plumbing about insulating your pipes. Our experts will insulate your pipes with highly reliable materials that will guarantee your pipes will not freeze.
2. Keep Your House Warm
If you live in an area where the winters are cold, you know how important it is to keep your house warm. It is more comfortable for you and your family and is also essential for preventing frozen pipes. When water freezes, it expands. This can cause even the sturdiest pipes to crack or burst. Keep your thermostat set to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid this. You might also want to open cabinet doors to let heat circulate pipes that run through unheated areas, such as garages or crawl spaces.
And if you’ll be away from home for an extended period, install a smart thermostat to ensure the heat is still on and to regulate the temperature to prevent your pipes from freezing. If you need help deciding what home heating solution is best, one of our experts can examine your house and help you settle on the ideal one.
3. Disconnect Any Outdoor Hoses
Water left in the hoses can freeze and expand, putting pressure on the piping and causing the pipes to burst. Even if the temperature isn’t cold enough to cause the water in the hose to freeze solid, it can still seep into cracks in the pipe and cause problems. So, before the cold weather sets in, disconnect your hoses and store them indoors, protecting them from the elements. In addition, turning off the water supply to outdoor faucets will help to prevent freezing.
4. Invest in a Space Heater for Your Basement or Crawl Space
Home heating systems often have no impact on certain areas of your home, including basements, crawl spaces, and garages. That’s why you need to install space heaters in these areas. By keeping the area around your pipes passing through these areas warm, you’ll help to prevent them from coming into contact with cold air and freezing. Space heaters are inexpensive and can be a lifesaver during extreme cold snaps.
They can help to keep the temperature in your basement or crawl space above freezing, even when the outside temperature drops. In addition, space heaters can also be used to thaw out pipes that have already frozen. Contact High 5 Plumbing to learn how to safely install and use space heaters to minimize the risk of fires.
5. Let Faucets Drip During Cold Weather
By allowing a trickle of water to flow through the pipes, you will help to prevent them from freezing solid. The pressure from the running water will help prevent any ice forming from expanding and causing the pipe to burst. So, if you’re concerned about your pipes freezing this winter, let your faucets drip. It’s an easy way to help keep your pipes safe and sound.
6. Winterize Your Home and Seal Any Leaks
Cold air can enter your home through gaps around doors and windows and cracks in the foundation. Once inside, it can cause the water in your pipes to freeze, leading to costly repairs. Having a plumber seal any air leaks will help keep your home warm and your pipes safe. Check around doors and windows and look for any cracks or gaps.
These are potential places for cold air to get in and cause your pipes to freeze. You can use caulk or weather-stripping to seal these leaks. If you suspect any pipes may have leaks, contact plumbing experts from High 5 Plumbing immediately. They will help identify all the sections with leaks and seal them successfully to prevent your pipes from freezing.
7. Install Smart Technology
Smart technology automatically adjusts water flow through your pipes based on the temperature outside. This can help ensure that your pipes are always warmed by a steady flow of water, even when the outside temperature dips below freezing. Smart technology can also detect leaks in your piping system and keep the water from accessing the pipes before the damage becomes severe.
The technology can even automatically monitor the temperature around your pipes and adjust it to keep them warm. In addition, smart technology can provide you with real-time updates on the temperature of your home, so you can take action if the temperature starts to drop.
8. Winterize Your Fire Suppression System
Fire suppression systems are essential to any home or commercial facility, and keeping them in good working order is crucial. One potential problem is water freezing in the lines, rendering the system useless. Maintaining dry fire suppression systems eliminates the problem of water freezing in the pipes. If the system trips or there is a problem with the compressor, it’s essential to drain and purge the water lines immediately, or the water can fill the sprinkler lines and freeze. This simple step can help ensure that your fire suppression system is always ready to do its job.
Rely on the Experts
Winter weather can wreak havoc on your home, but following these tips from High 5 Plumbing can help prevent frozen pipes. Pipes that freeze are most likely to be those that are exposed to the cold air, such as outdoor hoses, lines running through unheated areas of your home, and pools or sprinkler systems. But even indoor pipes in cabinets or against exterior walls can freeze if the surrounding air is cold enough. If you end up with frozen pipes, contact High 5 Plumbing, and we’ll take care of it. We are always happy to help you get your pipes working and prevent enormous expenses from pipe damage.
We also offer comprehensive repair, maintenance, and replacement of plumbing pipes, drains, sewer lines, and water heaters in Denver, CO and surrounding areas. Additionally, our services include sump pump repair and installation and hydro-jetting for clogged lines. Contact High 5 Plumbing today for outstanding plumbing services.
