Folks, it finally feels like winter. Perhaps a little too much like winter, considering temperatures have been consistently freezing for the last week and a half. When temperatures plummet and you feel as though you’re dipping your hand into a bucket of ice water every time you take it your hand out of your pocket, imagine how your pipes must feel. Frigid temperatures in the winter can cause your pipes to freeze, which ultimately leads to big headaches for homeowners, landlords, and renters alike. There are, however, several steps you can take to prevent the worst from happening. Let’s take a look at a few.
1.) Keep Your Heat On
Keeping your heat above 50 degrees Fahrenheit can ensure your pipes won’t freeze and potentially burst. So, don’t think you’re saving yourself some cash by turning off your heat when you leave for extended periods of time. By doing so, you’re doing more harm than good since burst pipes cause a significant amount of water damage to both your property and your possessions. Keeping your heat on, even while away, provides enough warmth to prevent any water within your pipes from freezing. Keep in mind, if you’re leaving on vacation, your heat doesn’t have to be as high as it normally would if you were home. Just be sure the thermostat is set above 50 degrees and you’ll be good to go.
2.) Keep Interior Doors Open
Since your pipes are often located within cabinets, it can be a good idea to keep those cabinets open when the temperature drops so that heat from the rest of the house can aid in keeping the pipes warm. It’s not the worst idea to keep interior doors open as well, so that heat can flow freely throughout your home.
3.) Let Your Faucet Drip
If you’ve dealt with frozen pipes in the past, or been through a scare or two, it is okay to let your faucet slightly drip. Doing so will keep the faucet open and relieve pressure within the system. When pipes freeze, what’s really happening is the pressure created between the blockage and the faucet leads to the pipe bursting. By letting the faucet drip, built up pressure is prevented and will keep the pipe from rupturing.
No one wants to deal with frozen pipes in the winter months. Follow our tips if you want to stay away from the worst case scenario and keep your pipes intact this winter. If the worst is to happen and you find yourself with a serious problem on your hands, contact our team here at Master Tech Plumbing! You can reach us at (508) 388-6007 or by filling out our online contact form!