As the winter season wreaks havoc across North Carolina, that cold weather brings multiple potential issues such as ice on sidewalks and struggling to keep your home warm and cozy for family and friends.
One of these important winter issues to take care of is the plumbing in your home. Some winters are mild in North Carolina, however some days the temperatures may drop below freezing. The freezing temps plus unprepared plumbing pipes could equal burst pipes. So what are some ways to mitigate the risk of burst frozen pipes?
In the following article, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing explains some of the routines to go through to ensure your pipes don’t freeze over:
Knowing is Half the Battle
Most homeowners don’t know the locations of every foot of pipe in their homes. A pipe that is heated or well insulated in some areas may be fully exposed to the elements somewhere else down the line. All it takes is a small frozen section to result in a major break. So to know where you might be at risk, ask your local plumber to conduct a thorough audit of your plumbing system for freezing risks.
If you don’t read the rest of their article, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing states that “insulating your pipes” and “maintaining air flow” are two common ways to avoid freezing problems. It looks like Brooks Plumbing Company also agrees on those two points in one of the their posts here:
INSULATE YOUR PIPES
You are most likely familiar with the type of insulation that gets installed in your attic and behind your drywall. Insulation plays a vital role in helping you heat and cool your home effectively and efficiently all year round. However, you might overlook how important it is to insulate your pipes.
This is particularly the case with pipes that run through unheated areas in your basement, garage, or outdoor-facing walls. It’s easy to insulate your pipes with sleeves that can be cut to size and slipped right over the pipes in question.
So it’s important to know that preparing your home such as keeping your furnace maintained, having your faucet on a slow drip during below freezing temps, and disconnecting external hoses can help. However, if you’re still not clear that your pipes are ready for freezing weather, reach out to us your local plumbing authority.
