Minnesota faces cold weather every winter, and homeowners seek solutions to keep their pipes from freezing. If you stop pipes from freezing, you also stop pipes from bursting in Grand Rapids, MN and avoid the hassles and costly repairs associated with that winter damage. If you want to keep the water running and your plumbing bills reasonable, here are five tips to avoid a deep pipe freeze:
- Open cabinets: If you open your under-sink cabinets, that exposes pipes to warmer indoor air and prevents freezing. This can be especially important if your sinks are located on exterior walls. If you know a night will be particularly cold, open the cabinets before you go to bed. Be sure to relocate any hazardous chemicals or harsh household cleaners if you have pets or small children.
- Set a faucet drip: Running a cold water drip from your faucets keeps water moving and reduces the chances of freezing. This is a great precaution on indoor fixtures, but you definitely want to do this with sinks or faucets located in garages, shops or other more-exposed areas. You only need to run a slight trickle, which will preserve your pipes without spiking your water bills.
- Close garages and shops: If you have water supply lines in a garage, shop or greenhouse, close these areas up before the sun sets. That will control the freezing temperatures and stop pipes from bursting in Grand Rapids, MN. If you can wrap exposed pipes with tube insulation, that is also a good precaution. You may also want to consider turning off water during winter if any barns or outbuildings have access to it. If you are not running water in these areas anyway, this is a cost-saving measure that could prevent cold weather damage.
- Set thermostats: When the weather forecast includes a cold snap, set your thermostat to the same temperature at night as you keep it during the day. It is true that setting a lower temperature at night saves money, but you will lose far more money if your pipes freeze and burst. You will protect pipes better if you preserve your indoor temperature at daytime levels. Also, if you leave on vacation, do not try to save money by turning off the heat. Set it at a minimum of 55 degrees so you do not return home to a cold house and a plumbing disaster.
- Insulate: This will likely have to wait until spring, but insulation goes a long way toward preventing the freezing and bursting of pipes. Pay special attention to basements and crawl spaces, as those spots are where pipes are most exposed. Also consider insulating garages, shops and attics. If you find drafts around doors and windows, seal them, as cold air could freeze pipes. Besides protecting your plumbing, this step also makes garages and shops useful all year round. That could make this effort well worth the investment!
Rapids Plumbing & Heating Inc. offers HVAC and plumbing expertise to stop your pipes from freezing in Grand Rapids, MN. Call us today to check out your furnace or install plumbing insulation before the coldest temperatures arrive.