How To Prevent Frozen Water Pipes
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When the temperature drops below the freezing point, it can lead to frozen pipes in house. Freezing water pipes can lead to significant water damage due to the frozen water creating a lot of pressure inside the pipe and causing them to burst. The best strategy to avoid the damage is preventing pipes from freezing. All homeowners know prevention is much cheaper than water damage repair. The following tips may help you to unfreeze water pipes.
Not only for cold climate
Keep in mind that it is a common misconception that frozen pipes are only an issue for homes in typically cold climates. Furthermore, the homes in warmer climates are actually more vulnerable to frozen water pipes. That’s because the pipes may not be properly insulated, or located in unprotected areas, or even outdoors. Abnormal temperature fluctuations can put these pipes at risk of freezing water pipes.
Tip #1. Don’t turn the heat off
The turned-on heating keeps warming up your house and preventing pipes from freezing. If you or your tenants are leaving for a long period of time, it's important to make sure that the heat is kept on in your property. This may lead to more costly utility bills, but if frozen pipes burst, the house will need water damage restoration which is much more costly since flood damage causes a lot of damage to the possessions.
Tip #2. Leave the faucet open just a bit
If you are expecting freezing temperatures and are afraid a pipe will freeze and burst, you may open the faucet connected to the pipe just a bit so it is slightly dripping. Doing so relieves pressure in the water system. It is actually the pressure that causes water damage from frozen water pipes. Leaving the faucet open will prevent this pressure from building up and will be preventing pipes from freezing.
Tip #3. Keep the indoor doors open
In many houses, pipes are located in cabinets, so it is a good idea to keep the cabinet doors open when the temperature drops. The heat from the rest of the house can keep thawing frozen pipes. This would prevent blockage and pressure formation and unfreeze water pipes.
Step 4. Apply heating tape
Heating tape works like a warm blanket for pipes, supplying heat directly to them to keep them warm and preventing pipes from freezing. There are two types of heating tape. The first one turns on and off by itself when the heat is needed puberty the other one must be plugged in when the heat is needed and unplugged when not in use.