Winter Time: Protecting Pipes Before

10/17/2018 (Permalink)

We all know that water expands when it freezes; unfortunately, your pipes don't. When water freezes and expands, it puts pressure on whatever contains it, and with enough pressure, your frozen pipes will burst, causing a very costly water damage in your home. Here are ways to protect pipes in freezing weather.

• Protect your pipes before the temperatures dip below freezing to save yourself from water damage. Especially important to remember if you're planning to leave your home for an extended period during the winter. An unattended home is a dangerous situation if you don't take the appropriate steps to winterize the house leaving.

• If you're leaving home for more than a few days, you should drain your pipes of water. Draining is done through your main water supply. This prevents any water in the tube from freezing and backing up into the tap and then your pipes.

• Wrap heating tapes around your pipes.

• Ensure adequate insulation in common problem areas of the home, including attics, basements, and crawlspaces that contain pipes. Adding insulation to your home also reduces your heating bill. You can also add insulation to your pipes. It isn’t enough to prevent pipes from freezing but it will slow the transfer rate of heat to cold. Wrap the pipes in foam rubber insulation, or you can even use a ¼ inch layer of newspaper in areas that are less exposed to the cold.

Give SERVPRO a call anytime that you need us at (805) 656-3911.