All across the United States temperatures are dropping, and in several states they are experiencing low’s we have not seen in over 20 years. As temperatures drop, it is important to pay attention to your pipes. These extreme cold conditions can easily cause your pipes to freeze. Below are a few tips to help prevent this from happening.
Tips to help prevent Frozen Pipes:
– Disconnect all garden hoses and anything attached to faucet if you haven’t done that already
– Most outside faucets have an interior shut off valve. Close this line at the shut off valve’
– Keep your house temperature at 68 degrees or higher, even if you are leaving the house for an extended period of time
– Open cabinet doors below sink to allow heat from the home to circulate
– Identify the location of the main water valve and the valve on your water heater( This may come in handy during an emergency)
– Wrap pipes nearest exterior walls and in crawl spaces with insulation or with heating tape. This can prevent freezing for interior pipes that run along exterior walls
– Insulate outside walls and unheated areas of your home
Monitor freezing pipe conditions:
– Allow a faucet to drip slightly (luke warm water) in order to minimize freezing
– The first sign of freezing is reduced water flow from faucet
– Check pipes around your water meter, in unheated areas, near exterior walls and crawl spaces
– Identify cold air drafts coming in from a flue or chimney chase and caulk gaps near pipes
For additional be sure to visit the “Insurance Answers” page by clicking here –