A cold snap can do more than send you reaching for a heavier coat. It can also wreak havoc on your home's plumbing, but a few small habits could spare you a burst pipe and a hefty repair bill.
Advertisement
As temperatures continue to drop, the risk of your pipes freezing climbs right along with them. While it may not be entirely avoidable, there are precautions you can take to prevent leaks and other plumbing problems caused by frozen pipes.
A frozen pipe | Source: Getty Images
"During the winter, frozen pipes can be a major concern for homeowners," said Darrell Paul, general manager of South West Plumbing. "Without taking precautions, families could be faced with a costly repair."
Jake Romano, a plumbing expert at John the Plumber, explained, "Frozen pipes become a real threat at 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-6.7 degrees Celsius) or lower."
An outside tap and hosepipe reel in winter | Source: Getty Images
Advertisement
"When the temperature falls below freezing, and a water supply is exposed to these freezing temperatures, the water can freeze in the pipe," Romano continued. "When this happens, the water in the pipe expands. Without anywhere to go, your pipe can expand and break."
That can leave you facing hundreds of dollars in repairs. Thankfully, it doesn't have to come to that. Here are a few tips to help keep your pipes from freezing.
A burst water pipe | Source: Getty Images
Drip Your Faucet
The first tip is to keep the water in your pipes moving. This is the most widely used tactic for preventing frozen pipes.
Letting water drip in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and anywhere else a faucet is located, even at a trickle, keeps water flowing through the system and stops ice from building up.
Advertisement
"When we see single digits, that's when I would go and I would turn the faucet and let it drip and just let it drip consistently," David Wahl, co-owner of Wahl Family Heating, Cooling and Plumbing in Carnegie, said.
A dripping faucet | Source: Getty Images
He continued, "The cost of a plumbing service call versus letting your faucet drip for a day or two, it's probably a lot cheaper to just let that faucet drip. It just needs to be a drip, a slow drip, just to keep the water moving. You can do it in laundry, bathroom, any sink."
As a general rule, let at least one faucet drip in each section of your home. This is especially important if your home has multiple floors or distinct areas, such as an extension or a wing.
Advertisement
A dripping water faucet | Source: Getty Images
Keep The Heat Running and Open Interior Doors
Pipes are often tucked away behind cabinets. It may sound counterintuitive, but leaving cabinet doors open lets warm air reach the pipes, and keeping bedroom doors open helps heat circulate throughout the house.
Make sure to leave the heat on as well, so interior pipes stay warm. Keep it running even when the home is unoccupied.
Experts also recommend that homeowners invest in insulation to wrap around their pipes. Wahl said it's important to close the interior valves that control the water supply to outdoor hoses, then drain any remaining water.
A woman opening a cabinet | Source: Getty Images
Advertisement
What to Do If Your Pipes Freeze
If the pipes in your home or business do freeze, Wahl cautions against trying to thaw them yourself, particularly if there are signs of cracks, leaks, or severe swelling.
"Try to open all the faucets to see if they will start dripping. If they notice water coming through the ceiling or dripping somewhere, call the water company to shut it off. Then call the plumber to fix it," Wahl said.
Advertisement
