Frigid temperatures can cause pipes and water lines to freeze and even burst. The best way to prevent expensive pipe repairs and replacements is to take preventive steps before the temperature drops. Use the following guidelines to prevent costly repairs in your New Jersey water lines:
- Check pipes in uninsulated areas, such as outdoors, attic, basement, and crawl spaces. Pipes in these areas have the highest chance of freezing. Add additional pipe insulation to pipes in these locations to help prevent freezing.
- Open doors to pipes located under cabinets during freeze warnings. This allows warm air from the house to circulate the pipes, preventing water from freezing.
- Turn on a small trickle of water that flows through pipes traveling in uninsulated areas. This will relieve pressure buildup inside the pipes and, even if the pipes freeze, will prevent them from bursting. In general, temperatures under 20 degrees are more likely to cause freezing pipes.
- Consider rerouting pipes that are located in uninsulated areas through insulated areas of the house. This can help prevent the risk of pipes freezing and bursting throughout the year.
- Plug any leaks leading inside the house, such as leaks around pipe connections, electrical lines, or other holes leading in and out of the house. Use caulk, insulation, or any other airtight material to block leaks. Blocking these leaks will keep cold air from blowing into the house and freezing pipes.
For more information about preventing frozen water lines in your New Jersey home, or for more information about other ways to save energy this winter, contact us at Pipe Works Services. We are happy to help prevent expensive pipe repairs in your home or assist you in other ways to improve your HVAC system.