Don’t let a frozen pipe burst your cozy bubble

12/21/2022 (Permalink)

Cold weather is on the way. Are your pipes at risk of freezing?  Let SERVPRO help you get prepared with our checklist of preventative measures. 

• Insulate pipes located in the attic and crawl space using pipe insulation, even if the climate where you live does not often have hard freeze conditions. You can also wrap pipes in heat tape or heat cables with thermostat control. The best pipe insulation for your situation will depend on your home.

• Drain water from the swimming pool and water sprinkler supply lines following manufacturer's or installer's directions. Do not put antifreeze in these lines unless directed. Antifreeze is environmentally harmful and is dangerous to humans, pets, wildlife, and landscaping.
• Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor faucets. Even frost-proof outdoor faucets can burst if a hose is connected.
• Keep garage doors closed, especially if there are water supply lines in the garage.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing, especially if your sinks are on an exterior wall. (If you have small children, be sure to remove any harmful cleaners and household chemicals.)

• Let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. When the weather is very cold outside, running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing.

• Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.

• Leave the heat on in your home.  If you will be going away during cold weather, set the thermostat to a temperature no lower than 55° F.

If your pipes do undergo damage this winter, we are open 24/7, 365 days a year!  Even though pipes bursting can be extremely inconvenient and devastating, SERVPRO of West Knoxville will be there to help you through it and to make it "Like it never even happened."