If you want to avoid frozen pipes this winter, follow these 6 tips

Winter is in full swing, especially if you live in the path of the polar vortex. Temperatures in the central US and Mid-Atlantic regions are expected to drop below freezing and possibly reach record lows in the coming days. As you prepare for the cold, keep these tips in mind to avoid frozen pipes and costly repairs.

Frozen pipes cost an average of $421 to fix, but if the damage is severe, the cost can easily add up to hundreds of dollars. That’s before you factor in any other expenses associated with water damage to your home.

By incorporating these expert tips into your winter home maintenance routine, especially during hard freezes, you can ensure that you and your household stay comfortable and cozy all season long.

Looking for more home tips to keep warm and keep your wallet full? Learn how to save money on water heating costs, stay warm with a ceiling fan, and set your thermostat for comfort and savings.

Cover exposed pipes

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

Covering exposed pipes is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to prevent pipe bursts. Your local hardware store will have several different materials you can use to insulate your pipes, including foam and fiberglass insulation. If you live in a place where frosts only occur occasionally, you can even use newspaper to cover your exposed pipes.

Insulate unheated spaces

When you have water pipes running through an unheated basement, attic, garage or crawl space, the pipes will not get as hot as they would in a heated bedroom or living room. By insulating unheated areas in your home, your pipes will stay warmer and less likely to burst. Additionally, well-insulated homes retain heat more effectively, which can you save money on winter heating.

If you’re the DIY type, you should be fine 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.

Leave the faucet running on cold days

You might be surprised that something as simple as a faucet can prevent pipes from freezing. But it’s actually one of the most effective things you can do. You don’t have to run the faucet on full blast, but make sure you have at least a slow drip.

Choose for best results tap which is farthest from your water source. Doing so will keep the water flowing through a large portion of your plumbing system, keeping it active and less likely to freeze. Likewise, if you have any faucets that are serviced by exposed pipes, it’s a good idea to let them drip as well.

Open the bathroom and kitchen doors

Another small (but useful) strategy to prevent pipe bursts is to open cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks. The heated air from your home will then begin to circulate under your cabinets and heat your ductwork.

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

Do not adjust the thermostat

You may be familiar with the Department of Energy’s recommendation to adjust your thermostat during the winter to save energy, but this recommendation does not apply during the cold season.

Instead, you should keep the thermostat at a constant temperature throughout the day and night. Doing so will keep your pipes warmer, making them less likely to freeze and burst. Additionally, maintaining a constant temperature will put less stress on your furnace, which is important during periods of extreme cold.

Seal leaks and drafty areas

Our final tip to prevent burst pipes this winter is to patch drafty areas in your home. When you have gaps or leaks between the inside and outside of your home, it’s possible for cold air to get in, lower the temperature around your pipes, and cause your pipes to burst.

The good news: these leaks are easy to seal. Start by taking a quick walk around the house looking for places where air might be creeping in, including window and door frames, electrical wiring, and dryer vents. Once you’ve identified problem areas, use insulation or caulking to seal them.

Bottom line

Even if home maintenance isn’t your forte, you should be able to handle all of these repairs in a single weekend. It may seem inconvenient, but making these minor upgrades is a small commitment that can prevent major headaches and expensive repairs in the future.

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