Guard Against Frozen Pipes this Winter
When it comes to the holiday season, people all over Granite City are busy buying gifts, decorating trees, and preparing for the holidays in many other ways. However, one thing you may not be thinking about is how to prepare your plumbing system for the winter. While it’s not as glamorous as Christmas shopping, this is an important step for all property owners to take to avoid frozen pipes in the winter. When pipes freeze at your home, it could have an effect on your entire plumbing system including busted pipes, which can be expensive to replace.
Which Pipes Will Freeze?
Not all pipes in your home are susceptible to freezing. Typically, only pipes that are located in parts of the home that are unheated or poorly heated are at risk of freezing. This could include the walls of your home, attics, basements, crawlspaces, etc. Where your heat doesn’t travel; there’s a risk of pipe freeze. Be sure to consider these tips to get your system ready for the long winter ahead and preventing frozen pipes!
Heated Tape
Not all pipes in your home are susceptible to freezing. Typically, only pipes that are located in parts of the Heat tape isn’t actually tape. It’s a cord that wraps around piping and plugs into an electrical outlet o help regulate the temperature around pipes. Be sure to periodically check on pipes with heat tape to ensure safety.
Foam Insulation
Another easy way to help prevent frozen pipes is to use foam insulation. This is a foam sleeve that opens at the bottom to slide onto almost any size pipe. This can be used in conjunction with heat tape for the best results.
Keep the Heat On
Keeping your home warm enough is the easiest thing you can do to prevent frozen pipes at your home or business. If you’re taking vacation make sure the heat is, at least, set to 55 degrees. Likewise, you can open cabinet doors to help heat circulate better in hard-to-reach places.
Seal Holes in Walls
To prevent pipe freeze, seal any holes that are letting the warm air in your home escape. Common places include; plumbing fixtures and basements, garages, laundry rooms, and utility rooms. Use caulk or sealant to plug holes and keep the warm air where it belongs.
Use Insulation
Finally, be sure to use insulation where appropriate and upgrade any shoddy insulation in basements, garages, crawl spaces, etc. This will help keep any plumbing that runs through the outside walls of your home warm enough to prevent pipe freeze.
In Granite City, contact Bailey Sewer & Water to unfreeze your pipes if you’ve forgotten these steps. We offer licensed, friendly plumbers with the tools and experience to fulfill all your plumbing needs!
