As those crisp fall mornings quickly turn into long frigid winter days, the season of scraping frozen windshields is upon us. You can easily see your frozen windshield, but what about the areas of your home you can’t see?

When winter brings in cold weather, it is important to make sure the pipes in your home can withstand below freezing temperatures. Here’s a list of ways to prevent freezing pipes in your home:

  1. Keep the thermostat at a minimum of 68 degrees Fahrenheit

  2. Make sure pipes are properly insulated

  3. Keep water slowly flowing on outer wall faucets

  4. Cover outside faucets

Keep Thermostat at a Minimum of 68 Degrees °F

Winter time means the holidays are officially upon us and many of us will spend time traveling to see our beloved long-distance family. This is when several of us will make a huge mistake… The temptation to turn the heat off in your home before you leave to save money on your utility bill is very enticing, but imagine this - You come home from a wonderful holiday visit to find that your pipes have frozen and burst, resulting in water flooding out of the busted pipes causing water damage to your home.

How do you keep a disaster like that from happening? Regardless of how long you will be traveling and away from home, keep your thermostat set at 68 degrees Fahrenheit or above. This will help to keep the pipes on the inside of the home from freezing and the ones under the home at a slightly higher temperature as well.

water pipes

How to Properly Insulate Pipes

When it’s freezing weather, you put on gloves and scarves to bundle up before you head out. Make sure water pipes are bundled up too!

Uninsulated pipes will most likely lead to freezing and possibly bursting during severe winter weather. To help prevent this, check the interior and exterior pipes of your home for any visible damage twice a year. If your pipes are not insulated, insulation foam can be purchased at your local hardware or home improvement store. Most of these products are easy to install and don’t require a professional.

However, it’s important that the foam is placed properly on the pipe and fits snug. If there’s already foam on the pipes, check to make sure there are not any holes. If so, you can replace or patch the foam insulation. If you don’t feel comfortable insulating and checking your pipes, you can always have a trained professional check your pipes for damage and make any needed repairs.

Icicles on Gutter

How to Use Running Water to Prevent Freezing Pipes

  1. Identify all faucets that are on outer walls of the home

  2. Turn those faucets on at a warm drip

  3. Monitor the drip to make sure it does not slow - slowing would be the first sign of a possible freeze

Cover Outside Faucets

Prior to the start of the winter season, you can complete a couple of routine tasks to make sure your home is ready for winter. For instance, as you roll up the outdoor water hoses to place in storage, cover those faucets to help prevent them from freezing.

Outdoor faucet covers and freeze caps are relatively inexpensive and can also be found at your local hardware or home improvement store. Watch more winter prep tips to prepare your home for cold weather.

Fall & Winter Tips

Following these quick tips can help you prepare your home for cold weather and prevent your home's pipes from freezing so while you and your family are bundled up in this cooler weather, your pipes will be too! Enjoy your winter season without the worry of freezing pipes.

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