Upgrade Pipe Insulation
01/09/2024
Make Resilient Upgrades | Strengthen Your Home • Winter Storms
Why does it matter?
Pipes can freeze in winter’s low temperatures. This freezing can cause major damage to your home if a pipe ruptures and leaks once it thaws.
What do I need to know?
- Water freezes when it expands, potentially causing water pipes to burst.
- Be ready to shut off the water valves if a pipe bursts.
Where do I start?
- Set your thermostat at 55 degrees or warmer.
- Open cabinet doors so heat can warm uninsulated pipes under sinks and appliances near exterior walls.
- Purchase a sump pump and know how it operates to protect the basement from water damage in case large amounts of snow begin to melt.
Foam, Dome & Drip
For as little as $1 per 6’ of insulation, you can stop pipes from freezing during winter, even when the power goes out.
Here are more ways to protect your home:
- Foam: Insulate pipes exposed to the elements or cold drafts with insulating foam.
- Dome: Place an insulating dome or other covering on outdoor faucets and spigots to reduce the likelihood of the water in your pipes freezing, expanding, and causing a costly leak.
- Drip: Drip faucets to reduce the build-up of pressure in the pipes. Even if the pipes freeze, you have released the pressure from the water system, reducing the likelihood of a rupture. If you are going out of town and suspect that temperatures will drop or a power outage will occur, turn off the water to your home and open all of the taps to drain the water system. This way, you won’t return to a frozen, soggy mess.
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