How to Prevent Your Pipes From Freezing

11/14/2018 (Permalink)

A water pipe burst due to no heat on while homeowner was gone and caused damage and mold through the entire house.

As temperatures plummet, the risk of your pipes freezing and bursting goes up. Burst pipes are one of the most common causes of property damage and can cause thousands of dollars in water damage according to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. With the costs of utilities going up these days, water and heat conservation is at the top of everyones list, however; think about the cost to repair your home if a pipe should burst.

The pipes most at risk are those located in unheated interior spaces such as basements, attics, and garages and especially pipes running through cabinets and exterior walls.

Here are some steps to take to prevent frozen pipes:

• Installing pipe insulation (about .50 per linear foot) to vulnerable pipes.
• Keep garage doors closed especially if there are water supply lines in the garage.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes.
• Let the cold water drip from the faucet, even a trickle can prevent the pipe from freezing.
• Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature during the day and night.
• If you are planning to be away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home no lower than 55 degrees.
• For long term, add insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces to maintain warmer temperatures. Also seal cracks to prevent drafts.

Following up on a couple of these tips could mean the difference between dollars and thousands of dollars. If you have an issue with a leaky or burst pipe, call SERVPRO of Joliet at 815-436-5735. We are there for you 24/7.  Let us make it "Like it never even happened".