Preventing frozen pipes in your Warrenville, IL home is essential. Insulation, routine maintenance, and professional inspections can all help you avoid cracks, leaks, and burst pipes this winter. Our team at Journeymen Plumbing is here to help you with everything you need to avoid frozen pipes.
Insulate At-Risk Pipes
The pipes that are most at risk of freezing tend to be those that are on the exterior of your home. Insulating these pipes will help them better retain warmth. We can inspect your pipes and help you determine which ones will benefit from insulation. This usually includes pipes in your basement, garage, crawl space, or attic.
An additional bonus of pipe insulation is that this process can help reduce your energy and water consumption. You won’t have to run your water heater as frequently to access hot water. This can protect the longevity of your heater and lower your monthly utility bills.
Seal Drafts Around Your Home
Use products like caulk, expanding spray foam, and weatherstripping to seal gaps and cracks around your residence. This minimizes cold drafts that have the potential to freeze your pipes.
Allow Faucets to Drip
In cases of frigid weather, allow faucets to drip a small amount of water. This prevents standing water in the pipes from freezing. While this isn’t the most efficient way to prevent frozen pipes, it’s very effective at keeping water moving, especially during bitterly cold snaps.
Open Cabinet Doors
When the location of pipes is inside cabinets, allowing warm air to circulate in these spaces can be just what you need to keep these pipes safe. Your kitchen and bathrooms are especially prone to frozen pipes when vanities house the plumbing lines for sinks and other features.
Maintain an Optimal Interior Temperature
The temperature inside your home should remain at 55 degrees Fahrenheit or higher throughout the winter. This is true even if you are going on vacation or will be away for long periods of time. Keep the doors inside your home open to allow proper air circulation.
Don’t Forget Outdoor Plumbing
Before the start of winter, turn off the water supply to your outdoor fixtures. These are areas that experience exposure to extreme temperatures. It’s common for outdoor fixtures to freeze, causing problems for nearby interior pipes. Drain your hoses, sprinkler systems, and pool equipment before winter weather arrives. Store items properly until spring.
There are freeze-proof spigots and fixtures that you can install. They feature extra insulation and a specific design that prevents pooling water to reduce freezing risks.
Install Heating Cables
For high-risk areas of your plumbing system, heat cables can help keep pipes warm. Schedule a professional installation to ensure your cables will be effective and to reduce any risks when using this equipment.
Know Where Your Shut-Off Valve Is
Familiarize yourself with the location of your shut-off valve before an emergency. If you still experience freezing pipes or a pipe burst, you can immediately turn off the water supply to that area. This can greatly reduce the amount of damage you experience.
Schedule Routine Inspections
We recommend scheduling an annual inspection for your plumbing system. Fall is the perfect time of year to address any potential issues and make appropriate upgrades or changes.
Perform Routine Plumbing Maintenance
Routine maintenance can protect your plumbing system from pipes that freeze, avoiding the need for pipe repair. If you have debris or clogs forming in your pipes, this can increase the risk of ice forming in these areas. The clog, along with ice formation, can put you at an increased risk of a pipe burst or extensive leak.
Schedule a preventive drain cleaning to keep pipes clear. You should also be careful of what goes down your pipes. Even if you have a garbage disposal in your kitchen, avoid placing large scraps of food, bones, or very greasy substances down your drain. Don’t flush anything down your toilet aside from waste material and biodegradable toilet paper. Even wipes that claim to be flushable typically don’t break down quickly.
If you would like to learn more about preventing freezing pipes this winter in Warrenville, our team at Journeymen Plumbing is here to help. We also perform routine maintenance and plumbing inspections. We can help you with modifications to your plumbing system as well as new installations. Contact us at Journeymen Plumbing in Warrenville to schedule an appointment today.
