Winter is here and freezing pipes are a real concern. If you've ever had freezing pipes, then you know how difficult it can be to get them going again. In this article we will give you some tips on how to prevent freezing pipes in your home so that when winter ends, they're still working great.
Freezing pipes in the wintertime.
Thankfully, freezing pipes during the winter is a preventable situation that doesn't have to be a problem. As long as you take a few steps in advance, freezing pipes will never be an issue in your home this winter. Here are a few things you can do to ensure that freezing pipes don't happen in your home this winter:
Give all of your faucets a good shake before turning them on so they don't freeze up when the water starts running.
Run lukewarm water from your faucet for a minute or two to help thaw out freezing lines.
Wrap pipe with foam insulation.
Should I insulate my water pipes?
Typically, your home's pipes begin to freeze when the outside temperature is at least 20 degrees Fahrenheit. If freezing temperatures are predicted, there are things that can be done before freezing hits to prevent freezing. These include wrapping the pipes in insulation or using heating tapes to provide heat for the section of pipe that is at risk for freezing or placing anti-freeze in accessible drains and overflows. Pipes freeze when the water within them becomes colder than the freezing point. Pipes typically do not need to be shut off because of freezing temperatures, but instead should be wrapped in insulation or heated with a heating tape.
Give all of your faucets a good shake before turning them on so they don't freeze up when the water starts running.
Run lukewarm water from your faucet for a minute or two to help thaw out freezing lines.
Wrap pipe with foam insulation wrap or heat tape before cold weather sets in.
Insulate pipes with pipe wrap (RTape).
Use an anti-freeze solution in overflow drains and accessible drains.
Pipes freezing during the winter is a preventable situation that doesn't have to be an issue. As long as you take some precautions, freezing pipes won't be an issue in your home this winter. When it comes to pipes and your home, prevention is the best medicine. Winterizing your plumbing system before the first snowfall will ensure that you won't have any frozen or burst pipes this winter.
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