Why Should I try and Avoid Frozen Pipes?

Here in Idaho, we have seen the snowmageddon of 2016 and it was something else! We were in a state of emergency and the roads couldn’t get cleared. In addition to that, barely anyone could leave their driveway. We must be prepared for this next winter because who knows what it will bring. The best thing to do is to avoid frozen pipes this winter.

Frozen pipes are a forgotten disaster. Unfortunately, many people are unprepared for the winter and don’t know how to winterize their plumbing. This can help avoid leaking pipes which can lead to extensive damage and molding. Find out more about what pipe leaks will lead to on our blog: Plumbing Problems: Leaking Pipes.

Preparing Your Pipes

To avoid frozen pipes you must plan ahead. It is hard to tell when the first snowfall will begin or when the freezing will begin. So, you need to start winterizing your pipes at the end of the fall. When it becomes below 20 degrees Fahrenheit is where your pipes will start to get damaged.

Step 1

The first thing to do to start winterizing your pipes is to essentially bundle up your home. Keeping the spaces around your pipes warm and draft-free is a key part in winterizing your home and avoiding frozen pipes. In your basement, you should use caulk and weather stripping to stop drafts from entering in. Do the same for any areas in your home that are under heat.

For your crawl space, you should seal it up with a polyethylene vapor barrier for insulation. By stopping air leaks in your home you’re

protecting your pipes and reducing heat loss in your home. Therefore, sealing air leaks around your home on the outside is the first line of defense against frozen pipes.

Step 2



Both experts and multiple sources say that the next step in winterizing your home is to disconnect your garden hoses and to put them into storage for the winter. In addition, if your outdoor faucets aren’t frost-proof you’ll need to shut off your water supply and open the faucets to drain them.

Step 3

Finally, when the temperatures fall below freezing you can open your
cabinets under your sinks to let warm air reach the pipes. Going this extra step will help ensure that if a pipe is starting to become frozen; the water won’t have a chance to expand any further and start to dethaw.

The Best Part?

If you’re running into any of these signs and either think or know you have a leak; there are experts you can call! Express Plumbing Heating & Air is a BBB +A-rated company. We’re here to give you an expert opinion and not a sales pitch. So, you’ll have options on how to fix those little leaks or those big leaks that have turned into a disaster. Call Express Plumbing Heating & Air today to get your plumbing problems fixed.

Brad Jordan

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