Frozen pipes can lead to serious problems in your home. Not only is replacing the damaged plumbing expensive, but if the event is particularly catastrophic, you can also incur restoration expenses. Water freezes and expands when it’s left sitting in pipes below a frozen ground. It’s this expansion that can cause major damage. Pipes that are most susceptible to freezing are those that are exposed to severe cold, including swimming pool lines, water sprinkler lines, outdoor spigots and interior areas such as basements, crawl spaces, attics, garages or even cabinets. Pipes along the exteriors of walls with no insulation are also very prone to freezing.
How can you prevent your pipes from freezing and the subsequent damage afterward? The key is to make sure you keep your pipes warm that would otherwise be exposed to freezing temperatures. For instance, if your water lines are in the garage, keep the garage door closed as much as possible. If you have vulnerable pipes inside kitchen or bathroom cabinets, open them at night to let warm air circulate and prevent freezing. If your lines are outside and there is no way to warm them, keep them slightly turned on and let a bit of water drip so that it won’t sit in the pipes and freeze.
