Cold Tonight - Prevent Frozen Pipes

Cold weather poses a number of hazards.  Reduce the risk of damage to your home by protecting your water pipes.

Water has a unique property in that it expands as it freezes. This expansion puts tremendous pressure on whatever is containing it, including metal or plastic pipes. No matter the "strength" of a container, expanding water can cause pipes to break. Pipes that freeze most frequently are those that are exposed to severe cold, like outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, water sprinkler lines, and water supply pipes in unheated interior areas like basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets. Pipes that run against exterior walls that have little or no insulation are also subject to freezing.

Prevent Your Pipes From Freezing

• Disconnect all gardening hoses and install covers on all outside faucets.

• Keep your house temperature at 68 degrees or higher, even if you're leaving the house for an extended period of time.

• Open cabinet doors below sinks to allow heat from the home to circulate.

• Identify the location of the main water valve and the valve on your water heater. (Learning the location of these valves may come in handy during an emergency.)

• Wrap pipes nearest exterior walls and in crawl spaces with pipe insulation. This can prevent freezing, especially for interior pipes that run along outside walls.

• Close all windows near water pipes; cover or close open-air vents. Freezing temperatures combined with wind drafts can cause pipes to freeze more frequently.

• Heat your basement and consider weather sealing your windows.

• Insulate outside walls and unheated areas of your home.

• If you plan to be away from home for an extended period of time, shut off water supply valves to your washing machine.