When temperatures fall, one of the tasks that you will be faced with is that of protecting your pipes. Burst pipes are costly to replace, and they also cause some serious water damage. Here are some tips to help you protect your pipes.
Keep the Heat On
Even if you are leaving your home for a while, it may be a good idea to ensure that the heat is kept on your property. This might not make a lot of sense, especially because of how much energy can end up being consumed. However, this will help prevent your pipes from freezing. If your pipes freeze because of the low winter temperature, they can end up bursting. If this happens, you will not only part with a lot of money to replace the piping, but you will also be left with some substantial water damage to deal with. However, when you do this, the heat doesn’t need to be too high. You can just keep it around 50 F.
Allow the Faucet to Drip
Are you afraid that the water in your pipes can freeze? Well, there is more than one way to prevent this from happening. Apart from keeping the heat on, you can also open the faucet at the end of that pipe a little bit so that it drips slightly. Allowing this to happen will relieve pressure on the system. What causes your pipes to freeze and burst is the pressure that is created between the blockage and the faucet. Allowing your faucet to remain open will therefore prevent pressure from building up and thus reduce the risk of ending up with burst pipes.
Seal Up Cracks and Holes
Sealing up cracks and holes goes a long way in ensuring that your pipes are safe. Cold air usually gets in through the gaps around holes where the pipes in your home run through walls or floors. To prevent this from happening, you should use caulk to fill these gaps. You can also get some spray foam. If possible, you must also seal cracks, gaps, and holes on both the interior and exterior sides of the walls and add some pipe pads. Cold air can strain your pipes and cause water to freeze. Sealing up holes and installing pipe pads will therefore lengthen the lifespan of your pipes.
These are some of the ways to protect your pipes. Don’t forget to also add some pipe pads to your pipes. They will also contribute to keeping your pipes safe. If you are looking for pipe pads in your area, get in touch with us today.
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