How to Prevent Frozen Pipes This Winter

When water freezes, it expands. Unlike other liquids, freezing water can exert over 2,000 pounds of pressure per square inch—enough to rupture even copper or steel pipes. A burst pipe can release hundreds of gallons of water into your home in a single hour.

Prevention is cheap; restoration is expensive. Here is how to winterize your home.

Pipes in unheated areas like attics, basements, and crawl spaces are most at risk. Go to your local hardware store and buy foam pipe insulation sleeves. They are inexpensive and easy to slip over exposed pipes.

This is the most common mistake homeowners make. If you leave a hose connected, water gets trapped inside the spigot. When it freezes, it can crack the pipe inside your wall.

If you are going away for the holidays, do not turn your heat off completely. Set the thermostat to at least 55°F (13°C) to ensure the air inside the walls stays above freezing.

During extreme cold snaps, open the cabinet doors under your kitchen and bathroom sinks. This allows warmer room air to circulate around the pipes.

If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a freeze. Keep the faucet open. You can try to thaw the pipe using a hair dryer (never an open flame). If you can't locate the freeze or if the pipe has already burst, turn off the main water valve immediately and call a professional.