How to Prevent Frozen Pipes in Your Home

16 Jan How to Prevent Frozen Pipes in Your Home

Avoid Frozen Pipes This Winter 

The month of January can bring a whole host of hurdles – from mounting debt to winter blues to cold temperatures. While we can handle the first two by cutting down on spending and taking our vitamin D supplements, cold temperatures can bring trouble to homeowners. During the cold weather, water pipes in your home can freeze and cause serious damage. Fortunately, the mess and expense of frozen pipes is preventable.

Insulate pipes well, particularly in exposed areas like the attic and in crawl spaces. The more insulation you add, the better. Many insulation options now come with Velcro fasteners, making it incredibly easy to install.

Open up cabinet doors. This allows the heat in the home to warm the pipes up and prevent them from getting too cold and freezing. If you have children or pets, be sure to remove any harmful and toxic products from reach since the barrier will essentially be removed.

Drain exterior pipes by turning off the outdoor water supply and then opening the taps and letting the water drain out. This will prevent any water from freezing inside the pipe as the pipe (should) be empty.

Maintain the heat in your home. Even if you’re going away for a few days, ensure that your heating is still running to prevent the pipes from freezing. The thermostat should be set at no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit, which will prevent freezing and also won’t drain your wallet!

One of the most important parts of protecting your home from damage is to make sure that you have the right homeowners insurance policy, which can provide the right amount of protection to fit into your lifestyle. Get in touch with Kevin or Marci at Dougherty Insurance who can help.