Top Strategies to Prevent Burst Pipes in Winter

Top Strategies to Prevent Burst Pipes in Winter

Top Strategies to Prevent Burst Pipes in Winter

Protecting your house from frozen pipes.

Now that fall is here, that means winter is right around the corner. With the last few months of the year come cold weather, low temperatures, and a high chance of pipes freezing. When the water inside the pipes freezes, it expands and creates extreme pressure. Eventually, the ice creates enough pressure to cause the pipes to crank. That is where the problems begin. A one-eighth-of-an-inch crack in a pipe can release up to 250 gallons of water a day! As a result of that water, the properly can suffer major structural damage. To prevent your pipes from freezing in the first place, check out these tips.

Wrap the pipes in insulation.

Exposed pipes are prone to freezing, even in warmer climates. Get insulation from your local hardware store and simply wrap it around the pipe to keep it protected from cold temperatures. For the more exposed/exterior pipes, you can include wrapping them with heat tape or using thermostatically controlled heat cables.

Keep the heat on.

Combat cold temperatures with the heat. Experts agree that keeping the indoor temperature between 55-65 degrees Fahrenheit should decrease the chances of water freezing. In addition, it’s advised to keep cabinet doors open to allow heat to circulate around the pipes.

Let faucets drip.

Idle water is much more likely to freeze. By allowing the water to run at a small drip through the faucet, you alleviate the pressure in the pipes, reducing the chance of water freezing.

Caulk windows and doors.

If there are gaps around the windows and doors, you’ll need to seal them up so that the warm air stays inside and cold air does not get inside unnecessarily. Any exposure to cold air will increase the likelihood of pipes bursting and freezing.

These tips will help to prevent frozen and burst pipes throughout the winter months. To protect your home throughout all sorts of disasters, visit Kevin or Marci. Our home insurance policies work to protect residents in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana.

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