Frozen pipes are obviously more prevalent in some areas than others. However now’s a better time than any to revisit this classic home nuisance as abnormal weather patterns seem to be creeping into unfamiliar territory. Here’s a brief familiarization on how to prevent frozen pipes & what to do in the event you encounter a frozen pipe this winter.
Avoiding Frozen Pipes
There are dozens of tricks for preventing frozen pipes. But instead of getting into specifics, I think it’s more important to focus on the conditions that garner frozen pipes. That way, you can decide for yourself what type of action should be taken.
- -Get plugged into weather patterns if you’re not already. Watch the local news or read the local newspaper. Either way, most local media outlets are good about warning folks about events such as frosts, cold spells & deep freezing events.
- -Keep water inside your pipes as far from freezing temps as possible by taking steps such as putting away garden hoses, splitters, etc. You might also consider shutting off the valve to your external faucets provided they have their own. Be sure to drain the lines after words.
- -Ask the previous owner (or even neighbors) if the house has ever had an issue with frozen pipes. If so, inspect problem areas & put a plan in place for keeping those areas above freezing. As another precautionary measure, you might consider allowing indoor faucets to trickle as moving water has a much harder time freezing.
- -Locate & know how to operate your main water valve in the event you need to thaw frozen pipes. When staring down a frozen pipe, you’ll be glad you did this ahead of time.
