With the last two winters having extremely cold temperatures in the Indianapolis area and feeling the cold weather this week, people start to worry about leaving their homes unattended.
Water pipes are at a risk of freezing any time temperatures drop below 32°F. However, it’s much more common for pipes to freeze when temperatures dip below 20°F. The longer the weather remains below freezing, the more likely it is your pipes can freeze if not properly protected and winterized.*
Anyone who has had a water leak knows how expensive, messy, and inconvenient it can be, and frozen pipes can lead to pipes bursting and expensive home repairs.
Here are a few tips for reducing frozen pipe risk:
1. Open cabinets under sinks, especially if the pipes are on an exterior wall.
Giving warm air an opportunity to circulate around the pipes under sinks by keeping those cabinets open helps keep pipes from freezing.
2. Turn up the heat.
It is common practice to turn down the heat when away from home as there is little risk to keeping a home cooler when nobody is there as well as the added benefit of reduced utility costs. However, when the weather is extremely cold, it is wise to turn up the heat a bit and open the cabinets to help prevent frozen pipes. If you can adjust your thermostat remotely that is ideal, but if not ask your home watch professional, friend, or neighbor to turn up the temperature when the forecast gets below 20°F.
3. Turn off the water.
Turning off the water is something that many people do when leaving home for an extended period, but it’s not enough to prevent a frozen pipe. Just as your irrigation is winterized by blowing the water out to prevent freezing damage, the water needs to be drained from your pipes to prevent frozen pipes.
If you find that water has stopped coming out of a faucet, take quick action. You can add a space heater to the area or a hairdryer on the pipes to try to get the water running again. Once the water is running again, you can leave a slow drip until the temperatures increase. If you had a pipe that is a repeat offender during the winter, consider improving insulation and using heat tape.
At Detailed Home Check, our home watch professionals pay attention to the weather forecast and talk to our clients about potential pipes at risk for freezing. If extreme cold temperatures are coming, we make sure the cabinets are open, the heat is turned up, and if desired, turn off the water and drain the pipes. We also run water in all the sinks, tubs, and showers, and flush the toilets to check that pipes are flowing properly.
If you don’t use Detailed Home Check, ask a neighbor or trusted friend to check on your home if you know there are freezing temperatures in the area.
Call us today at 317.537.7225 to schedule a home watch consultation or email us at detailedhomecheck@gmail.com.
*Source credit to Freeze Miser.
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