How to Prevent Your Pipes from Freezing During the Winter

November 15, 2020

Frozen pipes are one of the most common plumbing-related problems that occur in the winter months. Even here in South Carolina, the weather can occasionally get cold enough where there could be concern over frozen pipes, especially if you live in a poorly insulated home.

The best solution for frozen pipes is to prevent them from happening to begin with. With that in mind, here are a few tips from one of the most reliable emergency plumbing companies in Conway, SC to help you prevent your pipes from freezing during the winter:

  • Insulate your pipes: The best way to prevent frozen pipes is to purchase insulation designed to go around your pipes and keep them warm. You can find various forms of pipe insulation at low prices at your local hardware store. There are various pipe wraps and blankets made out of foam, fiberglass and polyethylene. In a pinch, you can even make a DIY version by using newspaper and duct tape.
  • Close your garage doors: If you have an attached garage, make sure you keep the garage door closed to prevent cold air from getting into your house. This becomes especially crucial if you have water supply lines that run through the garage to get into your home.
  • Maintain consistent temperatures: If you keep your thermostat set to the same temperature all day and all night, this will help you to prevent issues where the pipes start to freeze overnight due to lower temperature settings. While this might cause an increase in your energy bills, it’s better than the expenses that would come from having to repair burst pipes.
  • Seal up your home: Check around your home for any cracks, openings or holes that might allow air to come inside, especially around your windows, doors and cable holes. If you notice any, seal them up with caulk to prevent air transference that would allow cold air into your home or cause your warm air to escape. You should also be sure to seal or cover up any ventilated crawl spaces in your home that could cause more cold air to get inside.
  • Leave heat on while you’re out: It can be tempting to turn the heat way down while you’re away from home to save some money on your energy bills, but this practice will also make it more likely that you’ll experience issues with frozen pipes. Leave the heat on while you’re gone so you can keep your home protected. Plus, you’ll be able to come home to a nice, balmy, comfortable house!
  • Keep interior doors open: Your ventilation system needs open doors to be able to push warm air throughout your home. Keeping doors closed will only serve to create unevenly heated spaces. Opening up cabinet doors under sinks and cabinets can also help to make sure those spaces (and the pipes inside) get sufficient heat.

These are just a few examples of some of the steps you can take this winter to avoid frozen pipes. For more information about how a reliable emergency plumbing company in Conway, SC can help with frozen pipes, reach out to Rooter Express today.

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