Frozen pipes can cause tremendous damage; just one small crack can leak 250 gallons of water per day. According to State Farm, a quarter of a million homes are ruined annually due to leaks caused by frozen pipes. The good news is that the recent harsh winter is behind us, though that's not to say we won't get any more early-spring cold snaps. We shouldn't put anything past the winter of 2013-14.
Here are some things you can do to prevent frozen pipes.
Drain Unprotected Pipes
Close the faucet supplying your swimming pool and garden sprinkler and drain the pipes. When warm weather returns, check to ensure there is no damage due to freezing of the residual water.
Properly Seal All Openings Near Pipes
Make sure that any openings in your home's outside wall are properly caulked, especially near pipes. Establish where your water pipes run and cover all entry points; also be aware that damaged siding can let damp, freezing air into your walls.
Insulate Pipes in Unheated or Poorly Heated Places
Check pipes in poorly heated places like your attic, garage and crawl spaces. Ideally, re-route these pipes or purchase good quality insulation sleeves from your hardware store and insulate them. Make sure that all insulation gaps are properly caulked.
Use electrically heated tape for pipes that get very cold and where insulation sleeves may be insufficient. Have the tapes professionally installed to avoid risk of overheating.
Don't Let Your Home Get Too Cold
Leave heating on in all rooms where there are water pipes. Don't turn off your heating if you go away during the cold weather, and it's a good idea to turn off your water and open all faucets.
Take Preventive Action During Cold Spells
When freezing weather hits, keep your garage doors closed to protect pipes in the garage. Open your bathroom and kitchen cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate. Don't turn your heating down at night; it will cost more, but is cheaper than repairing water damage.
If temperatures are going to be very low, shut your water stopcock and drain your pipes.
For advice on insulating your home or choosing optimum thermostat temperatures to avoid frozen pipes during extreme cold, please contact us at Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. We provide quality HVAC services to the Fort Wayne area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in New Haven, Indiana and surrounding Fort Wayne area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about frozen pipes and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock