We are in the thick of winter, and although Tennessee experiences some scorching heat during the summertime, our winters can get quite cold. Therefore, every homeowner should look out for burst pipes during winter. If you aren’t careful, your pipes could freeze and break open. This can cause significant problems, as water damage can impact your home’s air quality.
However, if you follow the proper steps, you shouldn’t have to worry about this happening any time soon. So here are a few tips for preventing your pipes from bursting.
Allow Your Faucets To Drip Water
When the weather dips below freezing, keep your faucets constantly running at drip level. You don’t want to waste too much water, but allowing them to drip slowly will help keep things flowing in your pipes. The dripping will prevent your water lines from freezing.
Monitor the Temperature in Your Home
Since water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, you will want to make sure that your home’s internal temperature is higher than that number. Not only will this keep you more comfortable, but it will also prevent your water lines from freezing. Also, you should try to direct warmer air to colder spots in your home where your pipes could potentially freeze.
Leave the Cabinet Doors Open Under Your Sink
Typically, home builders will install a sink on a wall that connects to the outside. If this is the case in your home, leave your cabinet doors open so that warm air can prevent your plumbing from freezing. This provides an extra layer of protection for your pipes on top of leaving the faucet dripping.
Seal off Air Leaks in Your Home
To prevent cold air from entering your home, be sure to seal off any leaks or drafts you find. You can do this with caulk, insulation, or weather stripping, but ensure that you close openings tightly so that no air can get in.
Common locations where you might find a draft are your electrical outlets, the vent for your dryer, and areas around your pipes. Even a tiny gap could bring significant amounts of cold air into your home, which is why you want to seal off all drafts.
Overall, frozen pipes are a homeowner’s worst nightmare, but as long as you follow the proper steps, you can ensure that they won’t freeze this season. Now that you know some of the best tips for preventing your pipes from bursting, you can look forward to the rest of your winter being free of this problem!
