
How can I prevent pipes from freezing?
Question: What’s the best way to prevent pipes from freezing? How do I prevent frozen pipes?
Answer: There are many ways to prevent pipes from freezing, all of which are worthwhile of the time and effort required because frozen pipes often mean burst pipes which can mean extensive property damage. People living in the South often do not realize that homes are not properly insulated against the cold, which puts homes at risk of frozen pipes when we have a cold snap lasting more than a couple days with temperatures below freezing.
What You Can Do
Unhook your garden hose store it away. If you are able to shut your valves off from inside the home, turn them off and turn on the faucet outside to drain all the water out.
If you are leaving town for a long period of time and temperatures are supposed to be under freezing for more than a couple days, leave the faucet dripping so the water in the pipes continue to move; this will reduce the likelihood of the water freezing.
You should insulate the water distribution pipes in unheated regions of the house like crawl spaces, attics, garages, and basements. If you are not living in your home for an extended period of time and temperatures may plummet (let's say you are leaving the heat set very low while you vacation), insulate under the kitchen and bathroom cabinets to prevent your pipes from freezing. If your home is going to be left unattended for more than 3 days, shut off the primary water supply. Set your thermostat to 55 degrees or above, and leave the cabinet doors that cover the pipes open so the heat can reach the pipes.