Preventing Your Pipes From Freezing
12/5/2019 (Permalink)
As the temperature continues to drop, the risk of your pipes freezing and bursting rises. According to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, burst pipes is the leading cause of property damage during the winter, resulting in $5,000 or more worth of damage. Follow the tips below to prevent your pipes freezing.
- Keep your garage door closed, especially if your water supply lines are located in the garage.
- Open all kitchen cabinets and doors. This allows the warmer air to circulate around the plumbing, especially if you have sinks located on the exterior wall.
- Let cold water drip from your faucets. Running water through the pipes even a trickle can prevent pipes from freezing.
- Keep your thermostat at the same temperature during the day and night.
- If you plan on leaving, leave the heat set to no lower than 55 degrees.
- For long term, add insulation to your attic, basement, and crawl spaces. Insulation will maintain higher temperatures in those areas. And to prevent drafts, seal cracks and openings around windows, doors, and at sill plates, where the house rests on its foundation.