If you want to avoid frozen pipes this winter, follow these 6 tips

Winter is underway, especially if you live in the path of a polar vortex. Temperatures across the central US and mid-Atlantic regions are expected to plunge sharply below freezing and possibly reach record lows in the coming days. As you prepare for the cold, keep these tips in mind to avoid frozen pipes and subsequent expensive repairs.

Cost of frozen pipes an average of $421 to repair, but the cost can easily increase by hundreds of dollars if the damage is severe. That’s before you factor in all the extra costs associated with water damage to your house.

By incorporating these expert tips into your winter home maintenance routine, especially during the bitter cold, you can ensure that you and your household stay comfortable and cozy all season long.

Looking for more home tips to keep you warm and your wallet full? Learn how to save money on water heating costs, stay warm by using the ceiling fan and adjust your thermostat for comfort and savings.

Cover exposed pipes

When your water pipes are exposed, they are more susceptible to freezing and bursting, especially if they are located along exterior walls or in unheated spaces such as a basement or attic. To prevent this, it is a good idea to protect the pipes with insulation.

Covering your exposed plumbing is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to prevent burst pipes. Your local hardware store will have several different materials you can use insulate your pipesincluding foam and fiberglass insulation. You can even use newspaper to cover your exposed pipes if you live in a place where freezing temperatures only happen occasionally.

Insulate unheated rooms

When you have plumbing running through an unheated basement, attic, garage, or crawl space, the pipes don’t get as much heat as they would in a heated bedroom or living room. By insulating the unheated areas of your home, your pipes will stay warmer and less likely to burst. Plus, well-insulated homes retain heat more efficiently, which can save money on winter heating bills.

If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, you should be able to add insulation yourself. Otherwise, you can hire a professional to do it for you. Either way, it’s a cost-effective and energy-efficient way to protect your pipes and keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

Keep the faucet running on cold days

You might be surprised to learn that something as simple as running a faucet can help prevent pipes from freezing. But in reality, it’s one of the most effective things you can do. You don’t have to leave your faucet running at full blast, but make sure you have at least a slow drip.

For best results, select faucet it is the farthest from your water source. This will force water to flow through a large portion of your plumbing system, keeping it active and less likely to freeze. Likewise, if you have faucets that are serviced by exposed pipes, it’s a good idea to drain them as well.

Bathroom and kitchen cabinet doors open

Another small (but useful) strategy to prevent burst pipes is to open the cabinet doors under the kitchen and bathroom sinks. This way, the heated air from your home will begin to circulate under your cabinets and warm your pipes.

It is especially important to open your cabinet doors if they are located along the exterior wall of your home. As you might expect, the pipes in these areas are more likely to freeze because they are closer to the cold outdoors.

Don’t adjust your thermostat

You may be familiar with the Department of Energy’s recommendation for adjust your thermostat in the winter to save energy, but this guide does not apply during cooling.

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Instead, you should keep your thermostat at a constant temperature during the day and night. Doing this will help your pipes stay warmer, reducing the chance of freezing and bursting. In addition, maintaining a constant temperature will put less strain on you furnacewhich is important in periods of severe cold.

Seal leaks and leaking areas

Our final tip for preventing burst pipes this winter is to patch leaky areas in your home. When you have gaps or leaks between the inside and outside of your home, it’s possible for cold air to enter, lowering the temperature around your plumbing and causing your pipes to burst.

The good news: it’s easy to seal these leaks. Start by taking a quick walk around your house and looking for places where air can get in, including window and door frames, electrical wiring and dryer vents. Once you’ve identified problem areas, use insulation or caulking to seal them.

The bottom line

Even if home maintenance isn’t your forte, you should be able to handle all of these repairs in a weekend. It may seem inconvenient, but making these minor upgrades is a small commitment that can prevent major headaches and expensive repairs down the road.

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