Ask The Experts: Things You Can Do To Prevent Frozen Pipes

11/20/2020 (Permalink)

The cold weather is upon us, and with cold weather comes the threat of frozen pipes! Below are several things you can do to help prevent frozen pipes and the water damage that comes with them.

• Drain water from swimming pool and water sprinkler supply lines following manufacturer's or installer's directions. Do not put antifreeze in these lines unless directed. Antifreeze is environmentally harmful and is dangerous to humans, pets, wildlife, and landscaping.
• Remove, drain, and store hoses used outdoors. Close inside valves supplying outdoor hose bibs. Open the outside hose bibs to allow water to drain. Keep the outside valve open so that any water remaining in the pipe can expand without causing the pipe to break.
• Add insulation to attics, basements, and crawl spaces. Insulation will maintain higher temperatures in these areas.
• Check around the home for other areas where water supply lines are located in unheated areas. Look in the garage, and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Both hot and cold water pipes in these areas should be insulated.
• Consider installing specific products made to insulate water pipes like a "pipe sleeve" or installing UL-listed "heat tape," "heat cable," or similar materials on exposed water pipes. Newspaper can provide some degree of insulation and protection to exposed pipes.
• Consider relocating exposed pipes to provide increased protection from freezing.

Should your pipes freeze, or should disaster strike your business or home in any other way, give the professionals at SERVPRO a call! We are faster to any disaster and are here to help get you back to "Like it never even happened."