How to Prevent Pipe Freezing This Cold Season

It’s almost winter and the drop in temperatures can wreak havoc on your pipes. As it gets colder outside, the chances of your pipes freezing and bursting increase significantly without the proper care.

6 Ways to Prevent Your Pipes from Freezing This Cold Season

Nobody wants to deal with frozen pipe repairs and the best way to avoid them is to be prepared. Save yourself a last-minute call to an emergency plumber by taking these steps to avoid frozen pipes in Cheltenham.

1. Insulate Pipes Along Your Home’s Exterior

Adding an extra layer of protection to pipes along your home’s exterior remains one of the most effective ways to avoid common winter plumbing problems and prevent frozen pipes. Insulate pipes in the attic, basement, crawl spaces, and garage, including both hot and cold supply lines.

Common insulating materials include pre-cut foam, rubber tubing, and spray foam.

2. Seal Air Leaks

When cold air enters your home, it reduces the overall temperature and can promote pipe freezing. Inspect attics, basements, crawl spaces, and garages for air leaks, and seal them with caulking or spray foam.

As an added benefit, sealing air leaks can also make your HVAC system run more efficiently and potentially lower your utility bills.

3. Keep Your Home at a Consistent Temperature

Keeping your thermostat at a consistent setting allows warm air to heat indoor plumbing fixtures and any connections to exterior water lines. When exposed to extreme temperature differentials, your home’s plumbing system is more prone to cracking and freezing.

If you plan on being away from home for more than a few hours, set your thermostat for no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Open Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinet Doors

When temperatures outside dip well below freezing, opening kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors can help promote warm air flow. Remove any cleaning chemicals or other objects to ensure the water pipes receive the full benefit of your home’s heat.

5. Winterize Sprinkler Lines and Hose Bibs

Frozen pipes can happen outside the home, too. Be sure to remove and store any outside hoses and winterize your sprinkler lines ahead of the cold weather.

If you find yourself in need of leaky pipe repair as you’re winterizing your sprinkler lines, call the experts at Reliable Plumbing and Drain Cleaning to prevent any leaks from threatening your home’s foundation.

6. Let Faucets Drip

One simple way to prevent pipe freezing during the winter months is to let your faucets drip ever so slightly. Water moving through the pipes is less likely to freeze than standing water.

What to Do if Your Pipes Freeze

If you suspect your pipes have frozen, perform a quick test by turning on a faucet to verify the amount of water flow. Reduced flow, along with visible cracks in the pipe, can indicate that the pipes have frozen and can burst at any moment.

Shut off the main water supply to your home and call an emergency plumber from Reliable Plumbing and Drain Cleaning immediately to address frozen pipes in Cheltenham homes like yours.

Safeguard Against Frozen Pipes with the Experts at Reliable Plumbing and Drain Cleaning!

With over 20 years of service in the industry, Reliable Plumbing and Drain Cleaning knows this time of year can be challenging for homeowners dealing with frozen pipes, but it doesn’t have to be.

Contact us to schedule an inspection and gain peace of mind knowing your home is protected against frozen pipes this winter.