Winter is here – at least where we\’re at here in Colorado. With the plummeting temperatures and snowfall comes the risk of frozen and bursting pipes. Frozen/ruptured pipes actually happen to be the most common cause of property damage in the winter. This begs the question – have you taken the necessary precaution to avoid this costly expense? If not, the experts at Fire and Hail Restoration are here to help you prepare for a winter with freezing temperatures. Here are 5 tips to prevent frozen pipes at your home, commercial space, etc:
Insulate Your Pipes
One of the best ways to keep your pipes from freezing is to invest in specifically designed pipe insulation. At first this may sound like a costly expense, but pipe insulation is actually relatively inexpensive, especially when you compare it to the cost of fixing burst pipes.
When insulating your water system with pipe insulation, it\’s important to pay particular attention to pipes in unheated, interior spaces of your home, such as in your attic, garage or basement. You\’ll want to make sure you focus on these areas that are likely to experience freezing temperatures.
Let Your Faucets Drip
One tip we have is to leave your faucets \”running\”. This doesn\’t mean you need to turn on all the faucets in your home/space. Instead, you’ll want to determine which faucets are fed by exposed piping. Once you\’ve done the investigating and narrowed down which pipes are exposed to winter conditions, leave these faucets on during especially cold temperatures. Why? Because running water carries more energy than standing water. If the water is moving, it\’s creating a tad bit of heat therefore making it more difficult for it the water to freeze.
Leave the Heat On
If you plan on leaving your home for more than a day or two during the winter, it\’s smart to leave your heat on while you’re away. Leaving the heat on helps to prevent frozen pipes that could occur if the heat is completely turned off or turned way down. As long as your heat is set at 55 degrees or higher, you should be good to go!
Leave Interior Doors Open
The piping in your home is normally located in and around bathrooms and the kitchen. Although they are located in central places, they are still at risk of freezing. To avoid this and keep the heat even throughout your home, you should leave your interior doors open. Not only does this keep the temperature throughout your home even, it also promotes the movement of air from room to room which further aids in the prevention of frozen pipes.
Keep Garage Doors Closed
Another tip to keep your pipes from freezing is to keep the garage doors closed. This tip is really important if your water supply lines go through the garage. The concrete used in garages already keeps the space cool enough and letting freezing air in only drops the temperature even more. If a garage door is left open, it leaves the supply lines vulnerable to freezing which leads to an expensive repair. Just keep the garage doors closed after use and you’ll be okay.
Preparing for winter, especially if you live in an area that experiences cold temperatures, is critical. One of the most important things to consider are your pipes. This doesn\’t just go for your home either – if you have a commercial space or even an RV, you need to think about how to winterize your pipes and prevent any freezing. Hopefully these 5 tips to prevent frozen pipes will get you on the right track to avoiding a costly expense! Should you have any questions on these tips, experts at Red Hawk Roofing are standing by to be of assistance! Contact us today!Â
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