A major concern to have as a homeowner during the colder months is your pipes freezing over. Quite often, frozen pipes will not only entail repairs and replacement to your plumbing but can also create the need for repairs to water-damage parts of your home such as the floors, walls, ceiling and more. Therefore, if you would like to avoid having to pay exorbitant amounts of money in addressing the consequences of frozen pipes, it would be in your best interests to avoid this issue in the first place. Read on to learn some proactive measures you could take to prevent your pipes from freezing during the winter.
Draining water from lines not in use
If you plan on leaving your residence for a while during the winter, it is essential to ensure your pipes are not getting any water supply. The first thing to do would be to turn off your shut-off valves so that water is not being circulated to the interior or exterior of your home. Once you have closed the shut-off valves, you should subsequently drain all the pipes by leaving the taps open. By having your valves open, even minimal amounts of water that may linger within the plumbing can freeze without the risk of damage as there will not be any pressure being exerted within the piping system.
Insulating your pipes
Since pipes are out of sight, not many homeowners know where there plumbing runs. As such, some people may not consider that some parts of their plumbing will be located in areas that directly expose them to the freezing temperature. It is important to invest in insulation for your pipes if you would like to prevent them from freezing. One of the easiest ways to insulate your pipes would be to purchase insulation sleeves that can be easily fitted over your plumbing. A professional plumber would be able to ensure that your entire plumbing system is insulated.
Using a heat tape
Another way of ensuring that the dropping temperatures do not compromise your plumbing would be by providing the pipes with a constant source of heat. There is an assortment of accessories that you could invest in for this purpose. One of the modern alternatives would be an electrical tape that is wrapped around your pipes to function as a makeshift electrical blanket. For best results, you can use this type of tape in tandem with pipe insulation.
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