4 Tips to Prevent Frozen Water Pipe Disasters

If you live in an area with harsh winter temperatures, you know that frozen water pipes are not only dangerous, but they can be a financial disaster as well. If a frozen pipe bursts, you may be facing a hefty repair bill for both the pipe repair and the water damage to you home. If you get into trouble with frozen pipes, call Handyman Connection to take care of the problem for you. But there are steps you can take to prevent frozen pipes, and avoid spending money on costly repairs.

Wrap Your Pipes

You have probably read or heard the piece of advice that tells you to wrap your pipes in insulation to prevent freezing. But that general statement actually requires some details to be accurate. For example, any pipes that are in an area that is routinely warm do not need to be wrapped. You only need to wrap the pipes that are in the areas of the house that get cold during the winter.

What about interior pipes? The best way to prevent the pipes in your walls from freezing is to call on Handyman Connection to insulate your walls. Not only will this protect your pipes, but it will also lower your energy bills.

Turn Off the Water Main

When people go out of town for an extended period, they often lower their furnace temperature as much as possible to keep the heating bills down. If this is what you do, then the simple solution to prevent your pipes from freezing is to turn off your water main. Once you have turned off the water main, all you need is to run your water appliances to get the water out of the pipes and your pipes will not freeze while you are gone.

A Little Trickle Saves the Day

Some people consider it an old wives’ tale to run water through the pipes to keep them from freezing. But this is actually an effective way to preserve your pipes, especially in cold weather. If you run a slight trickle through your pipes, it will help to prevent the water in the pipes from freezing. To make sure you do not inflate your water bill, you should only use this trick in extremely cold weather.

Heating Coils

Insulation can help to prevent your pipes from freezing, but even insulation has its temperature limits. If you really want to protect the pipes that are at risk for freezing this winter, then wrap them in an inexpensive heating coil and turn the coil on when the weather gets really cold. Heating coils (also called heating tape) are easy to install and will prevent your pipes from freezing.

Every homeowner would agree that it makes sense to take steps to prevent frozen pipes to avoid the hassle and expense of having them repaired. Before you set about taking care of your pipes for the winter, trust the professionals at Handyman Connection to inspect your plumbing and make repairs. Hidden leaks can be a significant source of freezing issues during the winter, and our experts can provide you with a free, no-obligation project estimate that will ensure your pipes are ready for the cold winter weather.