subject: Winter Gets Cold And Pipes Burst - What Can You Do About It? [print this page] We have it better than we will ever know in Washington State and Oregon. Sure we have to deal with a little rain but overall the temperature never gets bellow 40 degrees. Its usually always moderate compared with the rest of the nation.
But when the temperature drops noticeably we, in this area area, are never prepared for it and lots of damage is caused due to it. Many residents were blindsided this past December when we had this intense uncharacteristic cold snap. Frozen pipes and meters are actually no good to deal with and pricey to mend. Here's a little advice to stop water damage for all owners in the Portland area and any other people living in the pacific northwest.
1) attempt to make absolutely sure your pipes are insulated and warm. Do not shut off the heat in the middle like many folks typically do. You can bring down the thermostat but don't shut it off. You would like to keep your cellar and walls toasty because this is where all of the pipes are. If you know that you have got bad insulation where you reside then you want to turn up the temperature well above what you usually have it. Trying to save a little on heat can finish up costing your hundreds or thousands of greenbacks calling a plumbing company.
2) make absolutely sure you turn off all of the taps that are on the exterior of your home. Take off the water hose. There were a large amount of individuals that didn't do this and the water in the pipes outside froze and burst. If you're able it is a clever idea to empty all of the pipes outside.
3) Heat can creep out of tiny cracks in the wall, holes, doors, and windows. On a cold and breezy day those little opening let a lot of heat out and let actually cold air in. Attempt to patch them up as much as you can.
4) Take insulating material, which you can get at your local plumbing supply store, and put them on your taps, pipes, and meters.
When a cold snap all of a sudden hits in the area the people the most prepared suffer the smallest amount of damage. Know the deficiencies of the plumbing in your house and act appropriately. Many houses in the larger Portland urban area aren't made to handle weather under 32 degrees for lengthy periods of time.
