Frozen Pipes? How to Prevent That!
Cooler nights and changing leaves cause many Texans to think of hanging with friends and family around fire pits and the upcoming family holidays. While enjoying the crisper outdoor air and spending time with loved ones are wonderful, autumn is also the perfect time to prepare your home inside and out for the cold months of winter and the freezing temperatures that are sure to come with the risk of frozen pipes.
There are many actions you should take to make sure your home is ready before winter arrives, such as scheduling heating system maintenance. But, another very important task is taking steps to ensure you do not have the unfortunate experience of frozen pipes.
To help keep both indoor and outdoor pipes from freezing, do the following:
- Unhook all outdoor hoses from the faucet connection at the house.
- As an added safeguard, protect outdoor faucets with insulated covers.
- Turn off irrigation systems during expected freezing events. (It is best to avoid irrigating when temperatures are forecasted to fall below 35 degrees Fahrenheit.)
- Be sure to winterize swimming pools according to the manufacturers’ recommendations.
- Use insulated wrap on exposed outdoor pipes.
- Seal any holes or cracks in exterior walls and around doors or pipes.
- Use heat tape or pipe wraps in basements, garages, crawl spaces and attics if pipes are vulnerable to falling temperatures.
- If you expect to be gone from home during a freeze warning or watch, open under-sink cabinet doors to allow warm indoor air to circulate inside the cabinet.
Should the unexpected happen causing the need for a frozen pipe repair, the only call you need to make for a plumber in Lubbock, Texas is to Armstrong Plumbing, Air & Electric. Our professionally trained plumbers are ready to fix broken pipes or help with any plumbing challenges you have this winter.
