If you want to avoid frozen pipes this winter, follow these six tips

winter Being in full swing, especially if you live on Route A Polar vortex. In the coming days, temperatures in the central United States and mid-Atlantic regions are expected to drop below freezing, and may reach record levels. As you prepare for the cold, keep these tips in mind to avoid frozen pipes and subsequent costly repairs.

Cost of frozen pipes An average of $421 to repair it, but the price can easily rise by hundreds of dollars if the damage is severe. And that’s before you take into account any additional expenses associated with water damage to your home.

By incorporating these expert tips into your winter home maintenance routine, especially during extreme cold spells, you can ensure you and your family stay comfortable and warm all season long.

Looking for more at-home tips to keep you warm and your wallet full? Learn how to save money On water heating costs, Stay warm with your ceiling fan and Adjust your thermostat for comfort and savings.

Cover exposed pipes

When your water supply pipes are exposed, they are more likely to freeze and burst, especially if they are located along exterior walls or in unheated spaces such as a basement or attic. To prevent this, it is a good idea to protect the pipes with insulation.

Covering exposed plumbing is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to prevent burst pipes. Your local hardware store will have many different materials you can use Insulate your pipesIncluding foam and fiberglass insulation. You can even use newspaper To cover exposed pipes if you live somewhere where freezing temperatures only occur occasionally.

Insulate unheated areas

When you have plumbing running through an unheated basement, attic, garage, or crawl space, the pipes don’t get as much warmth as they would in a heated bedroom or living room. By insulating unheated areas of your home, your pipes will stay warmer and be less likely to burst. Additionally, well-insulated homes contain heat more effectively, which can happen Saves you money on heating bills in the winter.

If you are the do-it-yourself type, you should be able to do this Add insulation yourself. Otherwise, you can hire a professional to do it for you. Either way, it’s a cost-effective and energy-efficient way to protect your pipes and keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

Keep the faucet running on cold days

You may be surprised to discover that something as simple as turning on a faucet can help prevent frozen pipes. But in reality, this is one of the most effective things you can do. You don’t have to leave the faucet running at full capacity, but make sure you get at least a slow drip.

For best results, choose faucet This is far from your water source. Doing this will force water to flow through a larger portion of your plumbing system, keeping it active and less likely to freeze. Likewise, if you have any faucets that are connected via exposed pipes, it’s a good idea to keep them flush as well.

Open bathroom doors and kitchen cabinets

A small (but useful) strategy to prevent burst pipes is to open cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks. By doing this, the hot air from your home will begin to circulate underneath your cabinets and warm the pipes.

It is especially important to open closet doors if they are located along the exterior wall of your home. As you might expect, pipes are more likely to freeze in these areas since they are closer to the cold weather outside.

Do not adjust your thermostat

You may be familiar with the Department of Energy’s recommendation regarding… Adjust your thermostat during the winter To save energy, this directive does not apply during a cold snap.

Instead, you should Keep your thermostat on At a constant temperature throughout the day and night. Doing this will help the pipes stay warmer, making them less likely to freeze and burst. Additionally, maintaining a constant temperature will put less stress on your body ovenThis is important during periods of extreme cold.

Seal leaks and areas exposed to strong currents

Our final tip to prevent burst pipes this winter is to repair draft-prone areas of your home. When you have gaps or leaks between the inside and outside of your home, cold air can get in, dropping the temperature around your plumbing and causing pipes to burst.

The good news: It’s easy to seal these leaks. Start by quickly walking around your home and looking for any places where air can get in, including window frames, doors, electrical cords, and dryer vents. Once you identify problem areas, use insulation or caulking to seal them.

Bottom line

Even if home maintenance isn’t your cup of tea, you should be able to tackle all of these repairs in one weekend. It may seem inconvenient, but making these simple upgrades is a small commitment that can prevent serious problems and expensive repairs in the future.

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