Water Loss Prevention - Protect Your Pipes This Winter

11/23/2021 (Permalink)

As the weather gets colder, it is important to get your pipes ready for the freezing temperatures.  As water freezes it expands.  This can cause pipes to fail and leak.  The American Red cross has some helpful tips on how to keep your pipes safe from freezing and/or bursting over the winter.  

The Red Cross provided the following tips to keep pipes safe:

• Tightly close doors and windows to the outside.
• Insulate pipes in unheated or drafty areas. Hardware and plumbing supply stores carry insulation to keep pipes from freezing.
• Shut off and drain the pipes leading to outside faucets. Water in these lines can freeze and expand, causing leaks.
• Close the inside valves and drain the pipes leading to your outside hose bibs (faucets).
• Drain the water from swimming pools following the manufacturer’s instructions. Do not put antifreeze in the lines unless directed.
• Know where your main shut off valve is and label it. Minimize the potential for water damage by ensuring that everyone in the household knows how to shut off the water in case of an emergency.
• Open the cabinets beneath any place with a water supply, such as the kitchen and bathroom sinks. This will allow warm air to circulate.  Residents with children and pets are reminded to remove any toxic substances first.
• To prevent pipes from freezing, allow one faucet, preferably the one that is the greatest distance from the main water shut off valve, to drip cold water slowly. This does not need to be a running trickle.
• Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily keeping it warmer at night, you can prevent a costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.