Frozen pipes can happen in any building for many different reasons, but they are preventable. If you live in a climate that experiences freezing temperatures in the winter, you need to be aware of the possibility of frozen pipes, and are these five easy ways to prevent them.

1. Keep your thermostat set to a constant temperature, even overnight. You may have heard that you should turn down your thermostat at night in order to reduce energy costs, but this can be bad advice. If the temperature drops significantly overnight, you could wake up to frozen pipes. Never let your thermostat dip below 55 degrees.

2. Even a slow trickle flowing through your pipes will help to prevent them from freezing up on you. When temperatures drop, turn on your warm water taps to a very slow trickle.

3. Check and maintain your water pump. If you have an outdoor well, and the water pump gives out, you could find yourself with frozen pipes in very short time. Before cold weather sets in, set a maintenance appointment to have your water pump checked for efficiency and to make sure that it is operating properly.

4. Insulate your water pipes with foam. Hardware stores sell specially-shaped foam insulation for pipes. It’s precut horizontally and perpendicularly, so all you have to do is split it open and encase your pipes in it. You can get away with just insulating the cold water pipes, but to be extra careful, insulate both the cold and the hot pipes.

5. If you have outside spigots, turn off the inside water valve that supplies water to them. Then drain the spigots fully and cap.

Pipes can easily burst because frozen water expands. If you follow the tips outlined above, you should be able to prevent this from happening in your home. If you need help or have further questions, contact us today for professional assistance.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Overland Park, Kansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

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