Colder Temperatures Can Create a Mess Inside Your Home

When water in your pipes freezes, it expands and puts pressure on the pipes, which can cause them to break. Even if your pipes do not rupture, being repeatedly exposed to so much pressure can weaken them and make future cracks and breakage more likely. Following these tips will help prevent frozen pipes.

If your pipes have already frozen or ruptured, call a plumbing emergency service in Chicago, IL to repair the damage.

Identify Weak Spots
Before you develop a plan, you should identify what sections of your pipes are most likely to freeze:

• Unheated basements
• Garages
• Exterior walls
• Attics
• Unheated spaces
  

Heated spaces are less likely to freeze because you can easily control the temperature. Spaces that do not have heating or good insulation, such as attics or garages, are at a higher risk of being exposed to low temperatures. If you are unsure what portions of your pipes are at risk, ask your plumber.

Control the Temperature
The easiest way to keep pipes from freezing is controlling the temperature inside your home. When it is cold outside, turn your heat on and keep it at a consistent temperature, even when you are not home. Opening doors inside your home will help the heat circulate more easily, making sure every room is at a stable temperature. You should also keep your garage door closed to prevent heat from escaping.

Insulate Your Pipes
Putting special insulation on your pipes is a great way to prevent freezing. Applying an additional level of insulation will help slow the release of heat, keeping your pipes warmer. You can install this insulation yourself or hire a plumber for help.

Let Faucets Run
Keeping water moving can help prevent frozen pipes. After determining what faucets are connected to high-risk sections of piping, turn them on to a low trickle. Keeping the water in the pipes moving will make it harder to freeze, and the energy from the motion will create enough heat to protect your plumbing.

Frozen pipes can be avoided if you identify weak spots, control the temperature, insulate pipes and let faucets run.