Tips to Prevent Frozen Pipes
Living in a cold climate has its perks—snow days, hot chocolate by the fire, and cozy sweaters. But it also comes with a few challenges, frozen pipes being one of the most infuriating. Frozen pipes can cause significant water damage to your home if they burst, not to mention the headache of dealing with a plumbing repair.
Luckily, there are a few things you can do to prevent your pipes from freezing in the first place. This blog will give tips on avoiding frozen pipes, including insulating your pipes, leaving cabinets open, and letting your faucets drip.
1. Insulate Your Pipes
Insulating pipes is one of the best ways to prevent them from freezing. This is especially important for exposed pipes, such as those in your basement or crawl space. You can purchase pipe insulation at most hardware stores; simply cut it to size and slip it over your pipes.
You can rely on an experienced plumber to insulate your pipes with insulation that will keep your plumbing from freezing and bursting in extremely cold conditions.
2. Leave Cabinets Open
Another way to prevent frozen pipes is to leave your kitchen and bathroom cabinets open during cold snaps. When temperatures drop sharply overnight, the air inside cabinets can get colder than the air outside. This cold air can then circulate around your plumbing and cause your pipes to freeze. So, if you're expecting a cold snap, leave your cabinets open so warm air can reach your plumbing.
3. Let Your Faucets Drip
During very cold weather, it's also a good idea to let your faucets drip overnight. Running water is less likely to freeze than still water, so allowing a slow drip from each faucet will help keep your entire plumbing system from freezing solid. You don’t need to set the faucet to full blast, a slow drip should be sufficient to prevent freezing.
Plumbing Protection by Albright's Mechanical Services
Frozen pipes are no fun for anyone—but they're especially unpleasant when they burst and cause water damage in your home. To avoid this scenario, and the hefty repair bill that comes along with it, follow these tips and give Albright's Mechanical Services a call at (410) 834-0148 to protect your plumbing during winter! Taking these precautions can help keep your pipes from freezing—and save yourself some headaches this winter season!