Prevent Your Homes Pipes From Freezing During Cold Winter Nights

The area under your kitchen and bathroom sinks can get rather cold even when you are heating the entire house

. To protect them from freezing, simply open the cabinet doors under the sink to allow for the warm air to come in contact with these hidden pipes. Many homeowners keep cleaning products under their kitchen or bathroom sinks. If children are in the home, make sure to remove any cleaning products from under the sinks and place them in a location out of the childrens reach while the cabinet doors are open.

Wrap foam pipe insulation around the pipes. Foam pipe insulation is designed to cover the pipes and protect them from freezing. The insulation keeps warmth around the pipes and helps keep the cold air away. You can find foam pipe insulation at home improvement centres and department stores for a relatively cheap price tag. In addition, the foam insulation is easy to install and only requires cutting with a utility knife to the correct length to fit the pipe. After you have cut the foam pipe insulation to the correct length, simply slip the insulation over the pipe. The foam insulation features a slit down the middle to allow for easy installation.

If the pipes in your basement are freezing, you can increase the temperature in the area by setting a space heater pointed towards the pipes in the basement. This will also work for a crawlspace. However, using a space heater to help keep pipes in basements or crawlspace from freezing will raise your electric bill. In addition, you should never leave the space heater unattended. For example, if you have a space heater running in the basement or crawlspace, do not leave your home. Make sure someone is there at all times while the heater is running. Furthermore, make sure the space heater is away from flammable materials such as paper, cardboard, clothing or paint thinner.

Turning the faucet on so it can drip during cold weather will not prevent the pipe from freezing but it will help prevent the pipe from bursting. Even if the water does freeze, the open faucet will allow for building pressure that occurs when the water freezes to escape thus preventing the pipes from bursting. When leaving the faucets open, even the littlest of drips will help reduce the pressure build-up and protect the pipes from bursting. However, you must leave both hot and cold water opens to protect both pipes from bursting. Unfortunately, letting a faucet drip is a waste of water and may result in your utility bill increases. This is why you should only leave a faucet dripping when extreme cold weather is in the forecast and then only on pipes that run through areas that are not protected or heated.

When you suspect you have a frozen pipe, immediately turn the faucet to the frozen pipe completely open and leave it open until the pipe thaws completely. This will relieve excessive pressure in the pipe and help keep the pipe from busting. Some homeowners decide to call a professional plumber to deal with the frozen pipes. However, plumbers can be rather expensive and busy leaving you waiting for several days before they can get to you and your pipes. Instead, try thawing the pipes yourself. If you decide to try to unfreeze the pipes yourself, do not use an open flame because it will cause more harm than good. Instead, hold a hairdryer several inches away from the frozen pipes and move it in a steady back-and-forth motion until the frozen water thaws.

by: Richard Morris

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