Over the next few days temperatures are going to be below average in our area. A common issue that a lot of homeowners and business owners encounter during this time of year are pipes freezing in their home or business. Water has a unique property in that it expands as it freezes. This expansion puts tremendous pressure on whatever is containing it, including metal or plastic pipes.
Pipes that freeze most frequently are those that are exposed to severe cold, like outdoor hoses, swimming pool supply lines, water sprinkler lines, and water supply pipes in unheated interior areas like basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets. Pipes that run against exterior walls that have little or no insulation are also subject to freezing.
The temperature is dropping fast out there! Here are some recommendations that you can do when you get home or before you leave the office to help prevent your pipes from freezing during this cold weather:
- Keep garage doors or bay doors closed if there are water supply lines in your garage or warehouse.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.
- When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. 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.
If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.
ServiceMaster is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. Call us at (762) 226-2114.
