It’s that time of year again – the cold weather is settling in and it’s time to start thinking about how to prevent your pipes from freezing. If you live in an area where the winters are especially cold, it’s important to take precautions to keep your pipes from becoming frozen. Frozen pipes can cause major damage to your home and can be very expensive to repair.
There are a few things you can do to prevent your pipes from freezing:
– Insulate your pipes: This is one of the best things you can do to prevent frozen pipes. You can buy special pipe insulation at most hardware stores. Just make sure to measure your pipes before you buy the insulation so you get the right size.
– Let your faucets drip: This may seem like a waste of water, but it can actually help prevent frozen pipes. Running water is less likely to freeze than standing water, so by letting your faucets drip slightly, you can keep the water moving and help prevent it from freezing.
– Keep your furnace set to at least 55 degrees: This may seem like a no-brainer, but making sure your furnace is set to at least 55 degrees will help keep the overall temperature of your home warm, which can in turn help prevent frozen pipes.
If you do end up with frozen pipes, there are a few things you can do to try to thaw them out:
– Apply heat: You can use a hair dryer, space heater, or even towels soaked in hot water to apply heat directly to the frozen pipe. Just be careful not to overheat the pipe – you don’t want it to get too hot and burst.
– Apply warmth to the surrounding area: This will help thaw the frozen pipe indirectly. You can do this by turning up the heat in your home, opening cabinets to let heat in from your furnace, or even using a lamp to warm up the area around the frozen pipe.
If you can’t seem to thaw the frozen pipe, or if you think the pipe may have burst, it’s time to call a plumber. Trying to fix a frozen or burst pipe on your own can be dangerous and could make the problem worse. BM Sewer and Drain will be able to quickly assess the situation and take care of it safely and effectively.
