Winter is in full swing by now in Texas and so are those freezing temperatures. Pipes bursting are one of those winter headaches that everyone would rather not deal with. Here are some tips on how to avoid one of your homes pipes from bursting.
1. Prepare For Upcoming Freezes
Knowing when there will be a freeze requires a simple glance on the local weather channel. It is very rare that a hard freeze takes anyone by surprise nowadays so everyone has the opportunity to prepare their home for the freezing temperatures to come. Do this by removing water from any pipes or hoses that aren’t being used. Start by turning off the water valves to outside water spigots, pools and hoses. Then turn them on to open them so any remaining water can drip out.
2. Insulate Outside Pipes
Head to your local home improvement store and buy covers for all your outdoor water spigots. If you know of any exposed pipes that run outside of your home grab some insulation sleeves for them as well. It takes 5 minutes to put these things on the pipes and can save you a lot of hassle and money in the long run.
3. Open Cabinet Doors
It may not be the most aesthetically pleasing thing to do for your home, but opening cabinets under sinks can help keep the indoor pipes warmer. During harder freezes even indoor pipes need a little extra help. The improved airflow under the sinks will help keep them from bursting.
4. Let Your Faucets Drip
Even a small trickle from your faucets can save you big money. While this isn’t the best water conservation plan it can save your pipes and a big leak from happening. By allowing a tiny drip from your faucet it gives any extra pressure building up in the pipes a place to go. During a hard freeze just leave a small leak coming from the faucets. You can even leave a bowl under the faucet to capture the water and use it later to water plants.
5. Shut Off The Water
If you’re traveling to Grandma’s for the holidays you don’t need the water turned on at home. It will also save you the worry of whether or not you will come home to an indoor ice rink in your house. Best take away the cause of a freezing pipe and turn the water off completely when not home. Standing, unused water in a pipe is what causes a burst when it freezes. If you take away the water nothing can freeze.
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