Frozen pipes are common in the winter and can cause many problems in your home. At Smooth Plumbing, we can help you if your pipes freeze. However, there are many steps you can take to prevent them from freezing in the first place. Let’s take a look at these preventative measures now.
1. Insulate Your Pipes
The pipes most vulnerable to freezing are exposed in your garage, basement, and any other unheated or uninsulated part of your home. The best way to protect them from the cold is to wrap them with pipe insulation. You should be able to find this insulation at any hardware store. If you expect a cold snap or blizzard and can’t reach a store, wrap your pipes with old blankets or towels as a temporary solution. It’s not a perfect solution, but it might keep your pipes from freezing until you buy proper insulation.
2. Use Heat Tape or Heat Cables
If you don’t think pipe insulation will prevent your exposed pipes from freezing, you can try wrapping them in heat tape or thermostatically controlled heat cables. If you use these products, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and only use them for their intended purpose.
3. Open Cabinets Under Sinks
If you have cabinets underneath your kitchen and bathroom sinks, open them if the temperature outside falls below freezing. This will expose the plumbing under your sinks to the warm air circulating throughout your home and keep it from freezing. Just remember to remove any cleaners and other hazardous materials that you might be keeping in your cabinets if you have small children or pets in your home.
4. Winterize Your Outdoor Faucets
If you have outdoor faucets, winterize them before it gets too cold. First, find the shutoff valve for your outdoor faucets and shut the water off. Next, open the faucets to allow all the remaining water to drain out. This basic winter plumbing maintenance task should keep the pipes connected to these faucets from freezing.
5. Turn Your Faucets on to a Trickle
If you expect freezing temperatures, let the faucets run slightly. Running water is less likely to freeze, even if little water flows through your pipes. This may affect your water bill, but it’s cheaper than fixing a burst pipe caused by freezing.
6. Don’t Turn Off Your Thermostat
If you leave home for an extended period this winter, you might be tempted to turn off your heat completely. While this might save you a little money, it’s not good for your plumbing. Instead of shutting everything off altogether, keep your thermostat above 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This isn’t warm enough to affect your energy bills too much, but it will help prevent your pipes from freezing.
What To Do if Your Pipes Freeze
Even if you take every precaution, your pipes might freeze if it gets cold outside. In the best-case scenario, your faucets won’t work when you turn them on. If so, leave your faucets on and call a plumber for help. You might be able to thaw a frozen pipe by gently applying heat from a hair dryer or heated blanket, but never use an open flame.
If you suspect a leak or a burst pipe, immediately find your home’s main water shutoff valve and shut off your water supply. The last thing you want is water to leak or spray everywhere when your pipes thaw. Repairing a damaged pipe is a job for a plumbing professional, so don’t try to fix the problem yourself.
Call Smooth Plumbing for Assistance
Whether you have frozen plumbing keeping you from using your faucets or a severe leak, Smooth Plumbing will be happy to help. We are a one-stop plumbing company serving Stafford, VA, and the surrounding areas. We specialize in leak detection and plumbing repairs. We provide same-day service when you have a plumbing emergency, and we have a 100% satisfaction guarantee for all our services.
If you have a plumbing emergency at home, call Smooth Plumbing in Stafford immediately.
