Winter delivers freezing temperatures. The countdown to cold temperatures begin as the leaves begin to fall. Most homeowners will start winterizing their homes at this point. Pipes that freeze and burst cam be a costly repair. Ruptured pipes are one of the most common causes of property damage in the winter.

Water pipes can freeze in cold temperatures. When water freezes in a pipe, it creates a lot of pressure inside of the pipe, which can cause it to burst and ultimately result in flooding. The easiest way to avoid frozen pipes is to keep them warm enough to keep them above freezing. Though heating your pipes during the winter may increase your heating expense, the inconvenience is well worth preventing the frustration of a burst water line.

Following are some of the steps to prevent your pipes from freezing.

– Make sure that your garage doors are shut, especially if the garage contains water supply lines.

– Open cabinet doors in the kitchen and bathroom to allow warmer air to travel around the pipework, specifically if your sinks are located on an outside wall. 

– Maintain the same temperature throughout the day and night. Similarly, lowering the thermostat at night to save a few dollars on your heating cost during a cold spell is not a good idea.

– If you are going to be away during the winter, keep your house warm by setting the thermostat to no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

– Insulate attics, basements, and crawl spaces for the long term. Insulation will keep those regions at a higher temperature. Seal cracks and openings around windows, doors, and sill plates, where the house rests on its foundation, to avoid draughts.

– Make use of heating tape: Heating tape functions similarly to an electric blanket for pipes, giving heat directly to the pipe to heat it. This is a fantastic solution for short portions of pipes that are at high risk of freezing, so you can apply the tape and check for problems.