The winter months in Minnesota can be bitterly cold. The bitter cold can lead to additional problems within a home, problems such as a frozen pipe. There can be, however, like most things there are ways that frozen pipes can be prevented. Take a look at our list of preventative measures that can help you not run into this issue.
- Insulation – Insulate rooms that have exposed pipes or are more susceptible to the bitter elements outside. Insulating these rooms can help to create a warmth barrier that should keep the pipes from freezing. Don’t forget the attic and crawl spaces throughout the house. These areas can get just as cold as basements or mud rooms and need insulation as well.
- Heat Tape – Wrapping heat tape around exposed pipes will provide an additional layer of warmth from the bitter cold.
- Seal Air Leaks – Small pinhole leaks can allow air into rooms or water pipes. This cold air in the pipes can lead to faster pipe freezing. It’s important to look for air leaks within pipes. It’s also important to make sure there are not any air leaks in the walls of a home to ensure the cold air is not easily flowing into the house.
- Outside Faucets – Disconnect water hoses and shut off valves to outside faucets prior to winter starting.
- Trickle Water- During the bitter, bitter nights, turn on a small trickle of warm water in each of your faucets. This keeps the water moving in the pipes and avoids water sitting and freezing in place. It’s especially important to do this overnight when temperatures are at their lowest.
- Open Cabinet Doors – Open cabinet doors and turn up the heat. The open cabinet doors allow for the increased heat to reach exposed pipes. As a note, heat should consistently be kept at a minimum of 55°F to help prevent pipes from freezing.
Maybe it’s time to go on vacation, and you want to ensure you don’t come home to water pouring out of your basement. In addition to the recommended precautions above, we would recommend that you check the batteries on your thermostat and keep a steady heat moving throughout the house. This will help to avoid pipes from freezing.
Even after taking the above precautions, if you find that a pipe might be frozen, we can help walk you through how to appropriately thaw that pipe to avoid water damage. Or if you find yourself in a situation where a frozen pipe has burst and caused water damage in your home give us a call! ServiceMaster in Rochester Minnesota is ready to help you.
