Worried that this winter season will lead to the concern of frozen pipes again?
Frozen pipes are a common problem faced during the winter season. The extra pressure faced during the season causes pipes to burst, resulting in water damage at home. Here are some tips to help you keep your pipes warm and dry even during the coldest of winters.
Drain the water lines outside
Water lines located in un-insulated or unheated areas have the highest likelihood of freezing. To ensure that the water line does not freeze under pressure from the cold turn them off and drain the lines leading to outdoor spigots or any lines in unheated areas. You can also consider capping the spigots with the help of faucet insulators.
Add a layer of insulation to the walls outside
Exterior walls get much colder than the walls indoors. If the plumbing in your house runs along exterior walls you can add an extra layer of insulation in the wall cavity or pipe insulation on the pipes themselves if they are accessible. If the cavity is not easily accessible, blown insulation may be your best option.
Open doors
This is an obvious method of combating the cold. Keeping doors open within the home or building allows allows the heat to circulate more easily preventing cold spots. This can also be done inside cabinets and vanities to help keep those areas warmer on especially cold nights.
Leave a dripping faucet
Freezing of water and the expansion of pipes is one of the main reasons for pipes to burst during the winter season. Running water is less likely to freeze so allowing some water to flow through faucets is another way to reduce the likelihood of freezing.
Technology
In this age of information technology, you can install several systems that can alert you regarding the state of pipes. Low-temperature systems, for example, are responsible for sending alerts to the monitored alarm when temperature drops below freezing point. Thermal tape is another option that can be installed on pipes susceptible to freezing. They use a low voltage resistance to create a small amount of heat to keep water flowing freely. You could also consider the installation of permanent backups to help you power the heating system in case you run out of electricity. Another option that many households are considering today is the installation of leak detection systems that shut off the water in case of a leak or sudden change in water pressure.
These are some steps that you can take to prevent your home from falling prey to the curse of frozen pipes during this winter season.
