Precautions That Make Frozen Pipes A Thing Of The Past

When pipes freeze, the repair and replacement costs can be astronomical. The process is not only expensive, but also time consuming and can damage other parts of your home, such as floors, walls and the yard. The best way to prevent these problems from occurring is to ensure you follow the correct steps to prevent frozen pipes in your Kansas home. Implement some of the following steps to make freezing pipes a thing of the past:

  • Insulate all pipes in exposed areas of your home, such as in crawlspaces, attics and any pipes located outdoors. The more insulation you have, the less likely it is that your pipes will freeze. Use pipe insulation, heat tape or heat cables to insulate pipes and always follow the package directions for best results.
  • Look for any air leaks present around water pipes. Seal leaks with spray foam insulation, weather stripping or caulk, depending on the size of the hole. Check for leaks around electrical wires, light sockets, dryer vents, plumbing openings and any other exposed areas around pipes.
  • Disconnect all hoses and outdoor water valves. Indoor valves that prevent water from traveling outside will provide the best protection against freezing.
  • During freezing days, allow a small trickle of hot water to run from any faucet that is prone to freezing. This will keep water moving and can help prevent frozen pipes.
  • Keep the heat inside your home at an even temperature to prevent sudden pipe freezes.
  • Open cabinet doors under sinks and around any indoor pipes to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes and prevent freezing.
  • Never set your indoor thermostat below 55 degrees.

In general, these steps will provide enough protection to prevent your pipes from freezing. If your pipes do freeze, contact a plumber right away to prevent major damage to your home or plumbing system.

For more helpful tips on frozen pipe prevention, or for any other HVAC questions, contact us at Overland Park Heating and Cooling.We provide Kansas City residents with expert HVAC car year-round and are happy to provide any service you need or answer any questions you have.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about frozen pipes and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Overland Park Heating & Cooling services Overland Park and surrounding areas in Kansas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today.

Pipes image via Shutterstock