Most people only think about their plumbing once something goes wrong. But if you want to avoid the headache of a plumbing disaster, it's important to take some proactive steps for plumbing maintenance. The most vital thing you can do is avoid having your pipes freeze and break.

Water freezes at a lower temperature than most other liquids, so it's important to keep an eye on the forecast and take steps to protect your pipes when the temperature dips. This article will show you how to prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting. We'll also give you tips on what to do if your pipes freeze.

Keep Your Home Warm

Keeping your home warm is key to preventing your pipes from freezing and bursting. Set the thermostat to the right temperature, usually no lower than 55 degrees F. You should also insulate any pipes or parts of your home that might freeze if exposed.

Keeping doors and windows closed and curtains drawn can help keep your home warm and insulated. If you have a fireplace, keep it burning during the cold months. Additionally, you can add pipe insulation sleeves around exterior pipes to help keep them warm. Maintain the thermostat set to at least 55 degrees F while you are gone for a few days, and leave a few faucets running slowly to keep the water flowing through the pipes.

Insulate Your Pipes

Insulating your home's unheated areas, like basements, attics, garages, and crawl spaces, will help keep your pipes warm and stop them from bursting. Also, well-insulated homes keep heat in better, so they cost less to heat in the winter. You can either install the insulation yourself or hire a professional. In either case, it's a cheap and easy way to keep your pipes safe and keep your home comfortable.

Seal Off Drafts

Any openings or drafts close to your pipes could let cold air into your house, causing your pipes to freeze. To prevent this, it is important to seal off any drafts around your plumbing with caulk or other materials that are designed to block a draft.

It is an inexpensive and easy way to protect your pipes from freezing in cold weather and can save you from potentially costly repairs. In addition to caulking, you can use foam gaskets or weatherstripping to seal off any drafts around door and window frames.

Taking the time to properly seal off any drafts around your pipes is a simple and effective way to protect your plumbing from freezing.

Open Cabinet Doors

In cold weather, keeping the doors of any cabinets with plumbing open is essential so warm air may flow around the pipes. It will help keep your pipes from freezing and bursting, which can cause a lot of damage to your home. Also, insulate any exposed pipes and look for places where cold air could get into the cabinet. By taking these steps, you can protect your plumbing system and keep it from leaking, which will prevent water damage from happening.

Add a Heating Tape

If your pipes are still in danger of freezing, consider adding heating tape. This special tape can be wrapped around the pipes, and it uses electricity to keep them warm. This tape is typically available in hardware stores and is easy to install.

It can also keep your pipes from bursting when the temperature drops quickly. Also, it can help keep the temperature of your pipes steady and keep them from freezing, saving you money on repairs.

Do Not Adjust the Thermostat

The Department of Energy may have told you to lower your thermostat during the winter to save energy, but this advice is invalid during a cold snap.

In this case, keeping your thermostat at a consistent temperature is the best way to go. It's important not to adjust your thermostat during a cold snap because doing so can cause your furnace to work harder than necessary.

Also, sudden temperature changes can stress your HVAC system and cause it to wear out faster, leading to expensive repairs. During a cold snap, keep your thermostat at the same setting to save energy and keep your heating system running well.

Following these steps can help prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting during cold weather. Taking these precautions now can save you time, money, and hassle.

Wrapping Up

The best way to keep your pipes from freezing and bursting is to take steps to protect them. Insulate your pipes, maintain a temperature above 55 degrees, leave cabinet doors open to let warm air circulate through the pipes, keep the faucets running, and monitor the weather. Doing these things can help you avoid costly repairs and the inconvenience of dealing with a frozen or burst pipe.

About the author

Shelby Bartz is the new Content Editor of Precision Air & Plumbing, a full-service HVAC, plumbing and home performance contractor operating in Chandler, Arizona. Shelby is a devoted bookworm but when she isn’t reading, you’ll find her cruising around town with her beloved ginger husky, Maxxy.