Are you Worried about your Water Pipes this Winter?

Cold temperatures can cause all sorts of problems from cars that won’t start to the danger of slipping on icy sidewalks.  One issue that cold temperatures can cause is frozen water pipes.  When the temperature drops too far down the water in the pipes in your home can freeze.  The expansion of the frozen water in the pipes can cause pressure, which could lead to the pipes bursting and creating a big mess in your home.

Are you worried about your water pipes freezing this winter?  If so, there are some things you can do to prevent the pipes from freezing.  Water pipes located on outside walls, in attics, or in crawl spaces are the ones that are most likely to freeze.  In order to prevent them freezing, follow these steps when the temperatures drop:

• Insulate the pipes
• Leave the faucet dripping-turn on both the cold and hot water valves, if applicable
• Also, if you are going out of town and plan on lowering your heat- make sure to not to turn it down too far in order to avoid frozen pipes

If your pipes DO freeze this winter–DON’T panic.  A frozen water pipe will not necessarily lead to a burst pipe.  There are a few steps you can take to help make sure that your frozen pipes do not cause damage by bursting:

• Open up the cabinet doors around pipes to allow warmer air to reach the pipes
• If you can find the frozen spot, use a hair dryer on it to help warm up the pipe.  A space heater can also be placed near the frozen pipe as well.
• DO NOT use an open flame on the pipe by yourself
• Contact a licensed plumber who will use a special melting tool to help

If your water pipes do freeze and burst.  Flame is willing and able to help with water pipe repair and any other plumbing renovations.  For more information about protecting your water pipes this winter, contact Flame!

You can also watch this short video from The Weather Channel: Keeps Your Pipes from Freezing or read The Weather Channel’s article, “Winter Storms: Take Preventative Action,” where some of this information came from.