The cold is here! Some tips on how to protect your pipes from freezing!!

10/22/2018 (Permalink)

The weather is changing here in the Northeast and we all have preparations to do before the upcoming snow and plummeting temperatures. Sometimes overlooked, Our pipes!

Burst pipes are one of the most common causes of property damage during frigid weather and can cause thousands in water damage—easily $5,000 or more, according to the "Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety".

Research conducted by the "Building Research Council at the University of Illinois" shows that the “temperature alert threshold” is 20° F, especially if you have uninsulated pipes running through an uninsulated space.

Here are some tips to help you keep those pipes in running order:

• Keep garage doors closed, especially if there are water supply lines in the garage.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.
• Let the cold water drip from a faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe—even at a trickle—helps prevent pipes from freezing.
• Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature during day and night. Again, during a cold snap is not the time to set back the thermostat at night to save a few bucks on your heating bill.
• If you plan to be away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.

For the long term, add insulation to attics, basements, and crawl spaces. Insulation will maintain higher temperatures in those areas. And to prevent drafts, seal cracks and openings around windows, doors, and at sill plates, where the house rests on its foundation.

Even with all of the preparations,pipes can freeze and burst, leading to water damage. Call SERVPRO of Lebanon/Hanover/Littleton 24hrs a day at 603-298-6942.