7 Tips To Prevent Frozen Water Lines And Burst Pipes

The Building Research Council at the University of Illinois conducted research showing that the temperature alert threshold is 20°F.

You are at an even greater risk for frozen or burst pipes if you have uninsulated water pipes running through an uninsulated space. Water damage due to burst pipes is one of the most common causes for property damage in freezing temperatures and can cost $5,000 or more according to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety.

Luckily, there are easy ways to prevent this plumbing emergency and keep your water running all winter long.

1. Leave Cold Water Dripping
   • Leave cold water dripping on faucets with lines running through unheated interior spaces like garages, basements, crawl spaces, and attics. Water lines running through exterior walls and cabinets are also at a higher risk of frozen and burst pipes. Leaving water dripping keeps the water moving to prevent frozen water lines in your sinks, bathrooms, laundry rooms, garages, and basements.
2. Pipe Insulation
   • Uninsulated pipes have no barrier between the freezing temperatures and the pipe itself. Pipe insulation is a fairly inexpensive and effective way to keep your pipes warm and avoid the need for an emergency plumber and costly burst pipe repair. Contact us today to have your pipes insulated by a licensed and insured local plumbing contractor to protect yourself and your property from water damage and frozen pipes.
3. Keep Garage Doors & Crawl Space Access Closed
   • Keeping the garage doors or crawl space access closed keeps the wind and cold air outside and away from the exposed or vulnerable pipes. Adding an energy efficient space heater to the uninsulated areas can also help keep the pipes warm and the water flowing to prevent frozen water lines.
4. Open Bathroom and Kitchen Cabinets Doors
   • Keeping cabinet doors open keeps the temperature in the normally cooler areas as warm as the rest of the home and allows the warm air to reach the pipes that may be running through exterior walls.
5. Keep Thermostat at the Same Temperature Day & Night
   • While your instincts to save money may tell you to turn down the temperature at night to help conserve energy and save money, turning down the thermostat during cold winter nights when the temperatures plummet puts your property at greater risk of frozen and burst pipes.
6. If You Plan to Be Away from Your Property Set Your Thermostat to No Lower Than 55°F
7. Winterizing Your Vacation/Summer Home or If You Plan to Be Away for Long Periods of Time
   • Having your property winterized during long periods away or if you use your Michigan property for a vacation or summer home by a licensed and insured plumbing contractor is an extremely important preventive measure. Winterization drains all the waterlines to prevent freezing and bursting of the pipes in the cold winter weather. We do offer winterization and would happy to help you prepare your home for your vacation. You can call us at (989)-780-2963 and ask for Todd.

We hope these 7 tips help you prevent frozen water lines and avoid burst pipes this winter!

If you do find yourself with frozen pipes or in need of burst pipe repair this winter or in the future you can email us here or call us at (989)-780-2963 and ask for Todd. We provide pipe insulation, burst pipe repair, frozen water line thawing and emergency plumbers for both your residential and commercial plumber needs, servicing Bay, Huron, Midland, Saginaw, and Tuscola Counties in Michigan.