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Quick Tips to Prevent Frozen Pipes this Winter

Nov 24, 2020

Every year, cold weather invites a few extra layers of both clothing and caution. Slippery ice, falling snow, and even the ambient cold itself can pose some serious hazards to be avoided. Switching to practical shoes is easy. Taking care of your house in the winter requires a little know-how.

A big part of that is plumbing. Pipes in the winter are known to freeze. This doesn't just stop water flow, frozen water in the pipes will expand until the pipes burst, spraying a mixture of ice and frozen water. Burst pipes can lead to water damage and the need for serious repairs.

The best way to deal with frozen pipes is to prevent them. A few smart steps in early winter can ensure that your pipes don't freeze or burst this year. Let's dive into several options for frozen pipe prevention.

1. Open the Cabinets

If you need to quickly prevent frozen pipes during a sudden freeze, open the sink cabinets. This is the best stop-gap measure for keeping your pipes unfrozen. Open cabinets allows hot air from the house to reach the pipes under each sink. Keeping the reachable areas of pipe warm will help radiate heat into the rest of your home's pipes. During a cold snap or snow storm, it's the best place to start.

2.  Set Faucets to Slow Drip

Set your faucets to drip very slowly. Even a trickle of water movement prevents your pipes from holding still. Moving water is much less likely to freeze solid, expand, then burst compared to slow-dripping water. Set each faucet to the smallest possible drip to keep the water flowin

3. Apply Heat Tape

Heat tape is a minimal electrical system that applies one wire along your household pipes - applied
by a line of tape. One end of the heat tape is plugged into an outlet and the filament gently warms
the length of your pipe-work. It can be applied anywhere you can reach the pipes. Self-monitoring
heat tape turns on when the temperature drops while manual heat tape is plugged in when heat is
needed for the house.

4. Wrap in Pipe Insulation

Pipe insulation is a reliable non-electrical approach for keeping your home pipe warm in the
winter. Pipe insulation is a long cylinder of foam with a slid down the length so you can fit it over
your pipes. It can be cut to size, bent, stretched, and you can slice holes in it for junctions.
Apply pipe insulation wherever you can reach the pipes, starting with the pipes under each sink. Head to
the basement, garage, attic, and utility areas to find extra pipe lengths to quickly insulate.

5. Pool Noodle Insulation

If you don't have pipe insulation, you might have a few spare pool noodles. Pool noodles are made very similarly to foam pipe insulation and can be cut in exactly the same way. Many DIY plumbers have saved their pipes from freezing by adapting last summer's cheapest pool toys.

6. Minimum House Heating

Don't let your house get too cold, whether or not you are home. Modern residences are not designed to freeze, including the pipes. Keep your home's heat set to a minimum of 50 degrees to ensure that the pipes inside and underneath the home don't have a chance to freeze. If you plan to leave the house empty for a few days, set the heater on minimum and open the cabinets to help the pipes stay warm.
Consider getting a tuneup or furnace repair in your home before it gets too late.

7. Open Interior Doors

Similarly to the cabinet trick, try to keep your interior doors open - especially when not using the rooms. This will allow heat to flow more evenly through the house.

8. Close the Garage

The garage can let it an incredible amount of cold - which is dangerous if pipes run through or past the garage. During the winter, don't crack the garage door and consider putting down mats on the concrete not occupied by a vehicle. Prioritize insulating or heating pipes in a garage that reaches freezing temperatures.

9. Cover your Outdoor Faucets

Finally, take care of your outdoor faucets. The spigots on the outside of your house are more exposed to cold and freezing - and that cold can radiate from the source to nearby home pipes. The easiest solution is to cap your outdoor spigots with an insulating cover so they benefit from being connected to warm indoor pipes instead of the opposite effect.

Frozen pipes can happen to any home during cold weather, but you can significantly reduce your chances with a few simple steps. It is still possible for pipes in a cold region of the home to freeze during the winter and in those occasions, we are there to help.
Contact Lutz Plumbing today for assistance in frozen pipe prevention or repairs after frozen pipe damage. We can help get your home into top condition for the winter.

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