
How to Minimize the Risk of Frozen Pipes
The bomb cyclone we all experienced this past month certainly provided us with a taste of inclement weather and winter is just beginning! With more cold and snowy weather surely on our horizon, we thought we’d give you a handy reference on how to lessen the risk of frozen pipes in the coming months.
If you’re a regular reader of our home maintenance articles, you’ve already disconnected your hoses and stored them away for brighter days. If not, this is your reminder. Once the hose is stored, cover the outdoor faucet with a faucet cover as an extra layer of protection. If your home has pipes in unheated spaces near exterior walls (think garage, attic, crawlspace or outbuilding) we recommend putting foam insulation or heat tape around the pipes as a precaution.
Now that the weather has cooled significantly, take care to seal any air leaks you’ve noticed. Keep the garage door closed as much as possible as this will retain some heat inside the space even without a heater or stove.
If holiday travel is on your horizon, don’t turn the heat off completely. Rather, it’s a good idea to set your heat slightly lower than normal and open any doors to cabinets with plumbing to maintain airflow. Similarly, let faucets drip ever so slightly to keep pressure from building up in the event of a freeze.
Finally, if you’ve done all of these and the worst happens, here’s what to do.