Frozen and burst pipes are preventable. Here’s some tips to avoid frozen pipes and other no-heat situations this weekend, during the cold snap.
Set Your Thermostat
It sounds simple, but everyone needs a reminder that you must set your thermostat at a reasonable temperature if you will be away from your home for an extended period of time. Frozen pipes can come quickly, and it doesn’t take -40 degrees to happen either. You can very well have temperatures in the 20’s with a wind chill that can cause them to freeze. So set your thermostat at a reasonable temperature when leaving your home. A recommended setting would be 60-64 degrees depending on the home.
Leave Faucets on a Slow Drip
Leaving your faucet open allows to relieve pressure and allows water to push through your pipes. There is a good chance as the day progresses and warms that it may promote residual heat to the area. A small amount of water making its way through a freeze can dramatically change the flow through the area. In the case that there is an area that is constantly giving you problems, leaving a faucet slightly dripping may prevent that area from freezing up.
Open Doors and Cabinets
Bring in the heat! Many times water piping on exterior walls near lavatories or kitchens can take the brunt of the freezing. It is also common for some areas of a home to not receive as much heat as others. So allow for heat to enter that area, open your cabinets and doors to allow for heat to enter the space. This may take some time, but it might just the recipe to loosen the frozen area. While you are doing this be sure to have your fixtures open of course!
The most important thing to remember is to not leave a frozen pipe unattended. In the event of a burst, you want to be home and able to call for emergency service if needed.
