How To Prevent Pipes From Freezing — I don’t know what it’s like in your neck of the woods, but here in Maine, there’s more than just a chill in the air. It’s just plain old cold! So if you’re like me, you’re probably already working your way through your winter checklist. And one of the things on my list is taking steps to make sure our pipes don’t freeze.
Or rather, making sure my husband has made sure the pipes aren’t going to freeze. 😉
Water expands when it freezes and frozen pipes can lead to busted pipes, which can lead to tons of money out of the door in repairs {ask me how I know this!}. By taking a few simple precautions, you could save some serious moolah and heartache.
First things first, locate your pipes, if you don’t already know.
Pipes in uninsulated attics and crawl spaces can be vulnerable to freezing. So, make sure that any cracks or holes in the foundation, roof, and/or walls are sealed up. Think about where cable lines or phone lines enter the house , if a hole was drilled to get them into the house, that tiny hole could be enough to freeze your pipes {depending on your location, of course}.
If you live in an area where a freeze is less common, your pipes are actually more susceptible to the weather. They will likely be located in places where they aren’t protected, because freezing is so unlikely. So, if you get a freeze warning in an area like that, make sure to take proper precaution by insulating the pipes or using a special heat tape.
In the middle of winter, simply opening cabinet doors to expose pipes to the heat of the house can go a long way. Also, if your house is in an area that is susceptible to frozen pipes, it’s best not to drop your thermostat at night during those coldest nights. Keep the temperature steady–even the slightest drop can tip the scales.
Remember your outside faucets have pipes that can freeze too. So, make sure to disconnect hoses, etc. that would encourage water to stay in that short span of pipe behind the exterior of your house. My husband also uses those little outside faucet covers for an added layer of protection.
If you travel during the winter months, resist the urge to turn down your heat below 55 degrees. Shut off the water before you leave. If you can, also drain the whole system. If turning the water off isn’t an option for you, it’s probably in your best interest to have a neighbor check in on your house. Just to make sure it stays warm enough and all is well. 😉
Running water is awesome.
Broken pipes are not. Well, that’s my advice on how to prevent your pipes from freezing.
So, how do you keep your pipes happy in the winter cold? Have you ever had a pipe burst due to the cold?
~Mavis
Lynne says
Mavis, your tips are spot on. I came close to disaster a few years ago when we (on Long Island, NY) were in a polar vortex and had several days of uncommonly cold weather. A nice plumber, who was booked solid and not able to come when I called about no water coming from upstairs sink faucets, told me to open the cabinets under the sinks, put some space heaters in the bathrooms to get and keep them as warm as possible and if I got water running again (thankfully, I did), to keep faucets running at a trickle. Mostly in winter I rely on the fact that I keep my house reasonably warm to keep my pipes safe. If we are expecting particularly frigid overnight temperatures, now I go around opening those cabinets and letting a little trickle of water run in the sinks and bath.
Rosemary says
If you don’t have any of the pipe insulation covers, you can use pool noodles (those long styrofoam things). We got ours at the Dollar Tree. We live in Florida and last year we had an unusual hard freeze over Christmas. We weren’t going to be home, so we let the faucets trickle water, opened up cabinets that had pipes and put pool noodles over exposed pipes that were outside (and left the heat on at about 62). When we got home, there were no broken pipes. What a relief!
Anne Radesi says
We have a crawlspace so we use heat tapes on the water pipe coming into the house.
Lisa Marie says
Great advice for a not-so-fun adulting reality! I had no idea when I had my first home…
A new discovery for me has been heated hoses! For anyone needing hoses outside (water for animals, etc), a heated hose saves bucket filling trips inside to out. It’s an awesome winter-ready item.