A few snow flurries hit our area yesterday. While the flurries brought no accumulation, they did bring a blast of artic air that has settled in and should be with us all week. Whenever we see temperatures fall into the teens and below, as is expected tonight, we run a good risk of having water pipes freeze. PHC Restoration helped numerous families restore their homes over the last two years resulting from damage caused by frozen water pipes. Here are a few precautions you can do around your home this winter to help prevent your pipes from freezing:
- Insulate hot and cold water pipes in crawlspaces, basements and attics.
- Use foam insulation to cover any gaps in exterior walls.
- Drip faucets to keep water moving through the pipes. Flowing/moving water is harder to freeze. Don’t forget to drip both the hot and cold water lines.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks to help the heat from your home keep pipes warm.
- Keep garage doors closed during extreme cold weather.
- Weather strip basement windows and doors.
- Disconnect and drain garden hoses.
- Use foam covers to insulate exterior faucets.
- Keep your thermostat set to 68 degrees or higher even if you are leaving for an extended period of time.
It is important to know where your water shut off valve is in your home. Shutting off the water is the first step if a water pipe bursts or if any other water damage emergency affects your home.
If you experience a water damage emergency in your home, give PHC a call. We have water remediation experts on call 24 hours a day to help you after disaster strikes.
