How to Prevent Frozen Pipes: Winter Maintenance Tips to Protect Your Plumbing

As winter sets in, it brings more than just snowflakes and frosty mornings. The drop in temperature also puts your plumbing at risk, potentially leading to frozen pipes and expensive repairs.

Fortunately, there are several proactive steps you can take to protect your plumbing and ensure your home stays warm and functional throughout the cold months. Here are some tips on how to prevent frozen pipes in your home this winter.

 

Keep Your Home Warm

Maintaining a consistent temperature throughout your home is crucial. Even if you plan on leaving for the holidays, don’t turn off your heat. Instead, keep your thermostat set to at least 55°F. This helps ensure that all areas of your home, including those with vulnerable pipes, stay warm enough to prevent freezing.

 

Let Your Faucets Drip

During extreme cold spells, let your faucets drip slowly. The movement of water makes it less likely to freeze and potentially burst your pipes. Oftentimes, it’s recommended that you use hot water for this, but any small, steady drip will help.

 

Insulate Your Pipes

One of the most effective ways to prevent frozen pipes is to insulate them. Use pipe insulation sleeves or wrapping to cover pipes, particularly those in unheated areas like basements, attics, and garages. This is also helpful for pipes that are closer to the outside of your home—and closer to the cold. Insulation helps keep the heat in and the cold out, reducing the risk of freezing.

 

Add Heating Tape or Pipe Heating Cables

For particularly vulnerable pipes, you might consider using electric heating tape. This tape applies a small amount of heat directly to the pipe, helping to keep it warm during freezing temperatures. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation or contact a plumbing professional to ensure proper installation.

Pipe heating cables work similarly to heating tape but are designed for longer sections of pipe. They are wrapped around the pipe and plugged into an electrical outlet to provide continuous heat during cold weather.

 

Open Cabinet Doors

You likely have pipes in cabinets or cupboards throughout your home, especially under kitchen or bathroom sinks. Keeping these cabinets open allows warm air to circulate around the pipes and prevents water from freezing as quickly. This is especially important if these areas are located on exterior walls.

 

Seal Any Cracks or Entrances

Inspect your home for gaps and cracks around pipes, especially those leading to the outside. Seal any openings with caulk or insulation to prevent cold air from reaching your pipes. Pay attention to areas around vents, dryer vents, and where pipes enter the home.

Likewise, make sure your home is completely closed up as well. If you have water supply lines in your garage, keep the garage doors closed as much as possible to maintain a warmer temperature. If necessary, use space heaters designed for garages to keep the temperature up.

 

Protecting your plumbing in the winter requires a combination of preparation and vigilance. By understanding how to prevent frozen pipes and working with a plumbing professional to conduct preventative maintenance, you can reduce the risk of costly damage and ensure a worry-free winter season.

If you do experience issues with your plumbing or suspect frozen pipes, call a plumbing professional to help navigate the issues before they can create more extensive damage to your home.