The best way to keep pipes from freezing in winter is by taking a number of proactive, preventive steps before winter’s icy grip sets in. No one wants to come home from work or return from the holidays to the sight of water gushing from a burst pipe, let alone walk into a flooded house. Yet, it happens all too often, which is why Octagon Cleaning and Restoration wants to remind its customers that now is the time to safeguard the water pipes in their homes or businesses against freezing in winter.
Otherwise, if pipes freeze, it can lead to a catastrophic failure of those pipes. Once they rupture, expect area flooding at least damage not only to surrounding walls, floors, ceilings, furniture, and furnishings, but also potentially damage insulation, drywall, other building materials, and household safety hazards if exposed to wiring and electrical outlets.
5 Essential Tips to Protect Your Pipes from Freezing this Winter
To help prevent costly, disruptive water damage to your property, Octagon offers industry-specific tips and best practices to protect your plumbing system during the winter’s harshest cold snaps. Taking action now can help ensure your home or business pipes do not freeze when temperatures plunge. Start by:
Identifying Areas of Vulnerability
Homeowners should identify areas where pipes may be vulnerable to cold air or drafts when cold weather sets in. Exposed or inadequately insulated pipes in unheated spaces, such as exterior walls, kitchen and bathroom cabinets, crawl spaces, and basements, are highly susceptible to freezing when temperatures drop. Knowing where your pipes are most exposed to cold allows you to take preventive measures, like adding insulation, sealing drafts, or increasing the flow of warm air to those areas during cold snaps.
Insulation
Insulating pipes is an effective way to prevent them from freezing in winter. Insulation provides a protective barrier against the cold, which helps maintain a more stable temperature for the water inside. On the other hand, uninsulated pipes in unheated areas are at a high risk of freezing and potentially bursting. Wrapping pipes in foam sleeves should provide enough insulation for exposed pipes in moderately cold areas of the house—the thicker the sleeve, the better insulated the pipe. Insulating vulnerable pipes reduces heat loss, saves energy, and ensures the water inside stays above freezing. Insulation provides a cost-effective, long-term solution to safeguard your plumbing system in cold weather.
Dripping Faucets
Leaving a faucet dripping cold water during a cold snap can help prevent pipes from freezing by allowing a small amount of water to flow through the pipes continuously. This helps prevent the water from standing and freezing inside the pipes when temperatures drop, which can cause them to burst. A slow drip of water helps relieve pressure in the pipe, making it less likely to crack or split due to freezing temperatures. If the dripping stops or slows, it’s likely the water in the pipe has frozen or beginning to, and it’s time to take steps to thaw it to prevent further damage.
Keep Cabinet Doors Open During Freezing Temperatures
Opening cabinets that house water pipes are a simple yet effective way to prevent pipes from freezing during a cold snap. Doing so allows warm air from the heated interior of the home to circulate pipes, especially those under kitchen and bathroom sinks. These areas are often located along exterior walls, where pipes are more exposed to cold temperatures and more vulnerable to freezing. By opening the cabinet doors, you reduce the temperature difference between the pipes and the rest of the house, helping keep the water inside the pipes above freezing.
Maintain a Consistent Flow of Warm Air
Maintaining a consistent flow of warm air to vulnerable areas of the house is another way to keep pipes from freezing during cold weather. Not just the pipes under cabinets but other areas where pipes may be housed along exterior walls, anterooms, and unfinished basements—areas that often have little natural heat and are more exposed to the cold. By ensuring that warm air reaches these typically cooler parts of the house, you minimize the risk of frozen pipes, maintain reliable water flow, and avoid the high costs and inconvenience of emergency repairs.
Protect Your Home from Frozen Pipes and Water Damage
Taking preventative measures like insulation, keeping pipes warm, and even letting cold water drip from faucets during a deep freeze is far more cost-effective and minimizes the risk of unexpected repair expenses and home disruptions. However, should a frozen pipe burst, shut it off and call Octagon Cleaning and Restoration if you can access the water supply. Servicing Maine, New Hampshire, and most of New England, we are the leading experts in water damage mitigation. Our team of professional water restoration experts has helped thousands of homeowners and business owners protect their properties and recover from all types of water damage situations. For more information or a truly free estimate, contact Octagon Cleaning & Restoration.
In Maine, call 207-893-0002; For New Hampshire, call 603-239-2100.
