Don’t Let Your Plumbing Freeze This Winter
Water behaves curiously at very cold temperatures. As the temperature falls, water contracts as expected until it reaches about 39 degrees Fahrenheit. At this point, it expands slightly as it gets closer to its freezing point. This expansion is what causes problems in many plumbing and air conditioner systems that circulate water during the wintertime. In fact, according to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, frozen pipes cost home and property owners thousands of dollars every year.——————————————– CONTINUE READING ——————————————–Luckily, with the right amount of forethought and preparation, this costly seasonal problem can be avoided. Let our skilled plumbers at Countryside share with you how to protect your pipes and plumbing system from damage due to freezing temperatures.Should You Insulate or Heat Your Pipes?Our Countryside Plumbing and Heating experts have weighed the costs of applying insulation or heat to your pipes against the overall cost of a major plumbing repair job. In either case, prevention proves much more affordable than repairs, so it does pay to sacrifice a portion of your budget to regular preventative maintenance in exchange for keeping your pipes in good shape throughout the winter.Precautionary MeasuresWhile the following tips might seem counterintuitive, they’re the best options for preventing your pipes from freezing:Close garage doors and open cabinet doors. Garages are rarely heated, so it makes sense to try to keep whatever heat it does receive inside. You can do this by keeping the garage doors closed whenever possible, particularly at night when temperatures can drop to freezing levels. Alternatively, you can also open up your kitchen cabinets and drawers if you have plumbing running through your walls. This will allow indoor heat to reach your pipes and keep them from freezing.Allow your faucets to drip water. While this might sound wasteful, it’s actually pretty effective at keeping the water in your main lines flowing. Moving water freezes much more slowly, so allowing your faucet to drip slightly is a small price to pay to avoid costly plumbing repairs.Invest in insulation. The next time you research the cost of a central air conditioner, throw in a quick query about pipe insulation. This is a long-term solution that can help prevent frozen pipes from year to year.At Countryside, you can count on our trained, experienced professionals to help you with all your plumbing, heating and air conditioning needs. Give us a call at (715) 246-2660 or fill out our contact form to schedule a service visit today.
