Housing Nightmare: Prevent Freezing Pipes

When it gets cold outside, a home’s water pipes may be at risk.

That’s because when water freezes, it expands. That can cause pipes to burst. And that could cause a basement to flood. It could ruin drywall too. In the end, homeowners could be stuck with thousands of dollars in repairs.

The average claim for damage from a frozen pipe is $18,000, according to an analysis conducted by Hartford Insurance Co.

Here’s what homeowners can do to prevent pipes from freezing:

Drain your pipes first.

Shut off the water valves and then open all the water lines leading to your garden hose, sprinkler, and pool to drain out any excess water.

Cover exposed pipes.

“Ideally, your water pipes should be kept in heated spaces only,” says Bud Summers with Puroclean.com, a property damage repair company. Be on the lookout for any pipes in unheated or uninsulated areas, like in attics, basements, or crawl spaces. Any piping with areas that could dip below freezing should be “insulated with insulation sleeves or wrapping,” which can be purchased from local hardware stores, says Summers.

Open cabinet doors.

Indoor pipes may need some extra protection too. Open bathroom and kitchen cabinet doors that have the plumbing tucked inside. That will help heat up those pipes.

Allow for drips.

When the temperature drops below freezing, turn the faucets on to allow for a little drip. “Letting cold water drip from the faucet helps relieve any pressure building from ice inside a pipe,” Summers says.

Source: “How to Keep Pipes From Freezing: 5 Essential Steps to Take This Winter,” realtor.com® (Dec. 26, 2016)