How homeowners can prevent pipes from freezing during winter
If you want to make sure your pipes don’t freeze during record-breaking cold, AccuWeather’s Damien Lodes has crucial tips for you.
When winter arrives and temperatures drop, homeowners face numerous risks, particularly concerning their plumbing. Frozen or cracked pipes, malfunctioning radiators, flooding, and leaks are just a few of the many unwelcome plumbing issues that cold winter weather can bring.
Fortunately, following a few simple tips can help prevent the costly damage often caused by frozen pipes. To avoid a potential mess and expensive repairs, here are some effective strategies to prevent your pipes from freezing during the winter months.
Icicles hanging from a frozen water jets, tube, yellow pipe. aged wall background. winter time concept.
Prevent clogged drains
Regularly pour boiling water down drains to help break down soap scum and grease buildup. Making a simple mixture with common household items and using them in sinks and bathtubs drains just once a week can go a long way, and the concoction is environmentally friendly.
Use a mixture of 1 cup of salt, 1 cup of baking soda, and 1/4 cup cream of tartar poured into a drain followed with 2 cups of boiling water
For stubborn clogs, use a plunger, a drain snake or a commercial product like Drano.
Lastly, consider scheduling professional drain cleaning services periodically to prevent major blockages. Plumbers can detect issues before they become major problems
Open up cabinets
Opening cabinet doors in the kitchen and bathroom can help circulate warmer air around the plumbing, according to the American Red Cross.
However, people with young children or pets need to be sure not to leave cabinet doors open in areas where cleaning supplies are stored.
Let water drip from faucets
In frigid conditions, people should allow water to drip from their faucets, especially where pipes are not insulated, the American Red Cross suggests.
"Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing," the Red Cross said.
Keep thermostat at set temperature
While some might turn down the thermostat at night, the American Red Cross suggests that it is best to keep the temperature consistent during the day and night.
"By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst," the Red Cross reported.
Eliminate drafts
Check throughout the home for areas where water supply lines are located in unheated areas of the house.
"Take measures to prevent the flow of cold air in these areas," Green Apple Mechanical said.
"Both hot and cold water pipes in these areas should be insulated. A hot water supply line can freeze just as a cold water supply line can freeze if water is not running through the pipe and the water temperature becomes cold."
Common unheated areas to check in your house include basements, attics, garages and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
If a faucet or pipe ends up freezing inside the house, it can be thawed by using an electric hair dryer, wrapping an electric heat pad around the pipe or by soaking towels in hot water and wrapping them around the frozen portion of the pipe.
It is important to start thawing closest to the faucet first and be sure to turn the faucet on so melted water can drip out.
In cases where the location of the frozen pipe cannot be located or it is not accessible, it is best to call a licensed plumber.
For the latest weather news, check back on AccuWeather.com. Watch the AccuWeather Network on DIRECTV, Frontier, Spectrum, fuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios. AccuWeather Now is now available on your preferred streaming platform.
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How homeowners can prevent pipes from freezing during winter
If you want to make sure your pipes don’t freeze during record-breaking cold, AccuWeather’s Damien Lodes has crucial tips for you.
When winter arrives and temperatures drop, homeowners face numerous risks, particularly concerning their plumbing. Frozen or cracked pipes, malfunctioning radiators, flooding, and leaks are just a few of the many unwelcome plumbing issues that cold winter weather can bring.
Fortunately, following a few simple tips can help prevent the costly damage often caused by frozen pipes. To avoid a potential mess and expensive repairs, here are some effective strategies to prevent your pipes from freezing during the winter months.
Icicles hanging from a frozen water jets, tube, yellow pipe. aged wall background. winter time concept.
Prevent clogged drains
Regularly pour boiling water down drains to help break down soap scum and grease buildup. Making a simple mixture with common household items and using them in sinks and bathtubs drains just once a week can go a long way, and the concoction is environmentally friendly.
Use a mixture of 1 cup of salt, 1 cup of baking soda, and 1/4 cup cream of tartar poured into a drain followed with 2 cups of boiling water
For stubborn clogs, use a plunger, a drain snake or a commercial product like Drano.
Lastly, consider scheduling professional drain cleaning services periodically to prevent major blockages. Plumbers can detect issues before they become major problems
Open up cabinets
Opening cabinet doors in the kitchen and bathroom can help circulate warmer air around the plumbing, according to the American Red Cross.
However, people with young children or pets need to be sure not to leave cabinet doors open in areas where cleaning supplies are stored.
Let water drip from faucets
In frigid conditions, people should allow water to drip from their faucets, especially where pipes are not insulated, the American Red Cross suggests.
"Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing," the Red Cross said.
Keep thermostat at set temperature
While some might turn down the thermostat at night, the American Red Cross suggests that it is best to keep the temperature consistent during the day and night.
"By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst," the Red Cross reported.
Eliminate drafts
Check throughout the home for areas where water supply lines are located in unheated areas of the house.
"Take measures to prevent the flow of cold air in these areas," Green Apple Mechanical said.
"Both hot and cold water pipes in these areas should be insulated. A hot water supply line can freeze just as a cold water supply line can freeze if water is not running through the pipe and the water temperature becomes cold."
Common unheated areas to check in your house include basements, attics, garages and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
If a faucet or pipe ends up freezing inside the house, it can be thawed by using an electric hair dryer, wrapping an electric heat pad around the pipe or by soaking towels in hot water and wrapping them around the frozen portion of the pipe.
It is important to start thawing closest to the faucet first and be sure to turn the faucet on so melted water can drip out.
In cases where the location of the frozen pipe cannot be located or it is not accessible, it is best to call a licensed plumber.
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For the latest weather news, check back on AccuWeather.com. Watch the AccuWeather Network on DIRECTV, Frontier, Spectrum, fuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios. AccuWeather Now is now available on your preferred streaming platform.
Report a Typo