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How to Keep Your Plumbing from Freezing in Winter

How to Keep Your Plumbing from Freezing in Winter

How to Keep Your Plumbing from Freezing in Winter

Winter’s chill brings unique challenges to maintaining your home, particularly when it comes to plumbing. Frozen pipes can lead to significant damage, including bursts that result in costly repairs and water damage. At Integrity Plumbing, we’re dedicated to helping you navigate the winter months with pipes intact. Here are essential tips to protect your plumbing and avoid the common wintertime woes associated with freezing temperatures.

Understanding Why Pipes Freeze

Pipes freeze when the water inside them expands as it turns to ice. This expansion exerts pressure on the interior walls of the pipes, potentially leading to cracks and bursts. Areas most at risk include unheated spaces like basements, attics, and garages. However, even pipes housed in cabinets or behind walls in less insulated parts of your home can freeze under severe cold conditions.

Strategies to Prevent Frozen Pipes

Insulate Your Pipes Adding insulation to your pipes is an effective first step in safeguarding your plumbing. Special attention should be given to those in unheated areas such as crawl spaces, attics, and external walls. Pipe insulation sleeves or heat tape can provide significant protection against cold temperatures.

Maintain a Warm Home Environment Keep your home heated to at least 55°F, even when you are not there. This warmth helps prevent pipes from freezing. Additionally, open interior doors to promote good air circulation, and allow the heat to reach all areas of your home, especially where pipes are located.

Seal Off Drafts Examine your home for any drafts near doors, windows, and the foundation. Use caulk or weatherstripping to seal these gaps. Ensuring your home is airtight can significantly reduce the risk of freezing pipes.

Let Faucets Drip Allow a slight trickle of water to flow from faucets connected to pipes that run through unheated or poorly insulated areas. Moving water freezes more slowly, and a slight trickle can also help relieve built-up pressure in the pipes should ice begin to form.

Disconnect Outdoor Hoses and Water Sources Outdoor hoses can retain water and cause the connected faucets and pipes to freeze and burst. Disconnect garden hoses, drain them, and store them properly. Also, shut off the water supply to exterior faucets to prevent freezing.

Additional Quick Tips for Protecting Your Pipes

  • Open cabinet doors under sinks to let warm air circulate around the plumbing.
  • If necessary, use space heaters in unheated areas, but always ensure they are placed away from flammable materials.
  • Drain water from your sprinkler system and shut off outdoor water systems to safeguard them from freezing temperatures.

What to Do If Your Pipes Freeze

Despite your best efforts, you might find that your pipes have frozen. Here’s what you can do:

  1. Turn off the Water Main: Doing this will minimize flooding should the pipe burst while you are attempting to thaw it.
  2. Thaw the Pipes: Use a hairdryer, heating pad, or towels soaked in warm water to thaw the frozen section of the pipe. Never use an open flame as this can damage the pipes and pose a fire risk.
  3. Call a Professional: If you are unsure where the freeze has occurred, or if you cannot safely access the frozen area, it’s best to call a professional plumber.

At Integrity Plumbing, we’re committed to ensuring your plumbing withstands the harsh winter conditions. If you need assistance winterizing your plumbing system or if you encounter frozen pipes, do not hesitate to call us at 864.382.7506. Let us help you keep your home safe and dry through the coldest months.

Integrity Plumbing is dedicated to providing reliable plumbing services in Upstate South Carolina. Give us a call today at 864.382.7506!

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