The cold winter temperatures in Indianapolis can cause your water pipes to freeze. Water expands while it freezes, which could cause both plastic and metal pipes to burst and spew hundreds or thousands of gallons of water throughout your home, resulting in expensive damage. The tips below will help you protect pipes from freezing.
Secure Outdoor Faucets
You should take several steps to freeze-proof your outdoor faucets. First, disconnect and store any hoses used outside. Close the inside valves feeding the outdoor systems. Drain residual water from the outdoor faucets and pipes.
Insulate Pipes
Exposed pipes are at a greater risk of freezing. As a result, you’ll want to ensure that such pipes, such as those in your attic and crawl space, are well insulated. Consider wrapping them with materials specifically made to insulate pipes, such as heat tape, heat cables, and pipe sleeves.
Open Your Cabinet Doors
Opening your cabinet doors lets heat reach the pipes behind them. The space is usually not well insulated.
Let Your Faucet Drip
When it’s very cold outside, let cold water drip from a faucet farthest from the main line. As water travels through the entire length of your plumbing system, it relieves pressure that may have been building up in your pipes, preventing the pipes from bursting.
Keep Consistent Thermostat Settings
Thermostats set very low and rapid drops in temperature are common reasons for pipes freezing. Consider maintaining the same temperature setting throughout the day and night. While that may increase your heating bill, it will help protect you from the costly effects of frozen pipes.
Take Precautions to Protect Pipes Before Going Away
If you’ll be away from home for some time during the winter, leave the heat on as an extra safeguard to protect pipes. The set temperature shouldn’t be lower than 55 degrees. Also, check the thermostat battery and replace it if needed.
As you do your winter preventive maintenance, remember to take the necessary steps to protect pipes from the cold weather ahead. For more tips on preventing frozen pipes, contact Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing. We’ve provided plumbing services to Indianapolis-area homeowners for more than 50 years.
