Nothing is more annoying than finding split pipes, which is why we are here with our tips to prevent frozen pipes.
December is such a costly time with Christmas and heating bills, that having to pay out for plumbers to fix you pipe work is the last thing you need.
Check Those Leaky Pipes
Before the weather turns too cold, it is important to go round checking for damaged or leaking pipes:
- Outside pipes
- Pipes in the garage
- Pipes in the attic
- Pipes from sinks that lead outside
All of these pipes run the easy risk of freezing in the chilly weather, which is why you need to check them all to prevent frozen pipes in winter.
Need help with frozen pipes? Speak to an expert now:
Frozen Pipes Burst
When your water pipes get cold, any water inside of them will freeze and expand, running the risk of breaking your pipe or splitting it. This can lead onto flooding and water damage to your property. Get creative with DIY to prevent frozen pipes.
Insulating Your Pipes
There are a number of methods to prevent frozen water pipes when preparing for winter.
Foam insulation
Using foam insulation is one of the most well-known ways to help insulate your pipes, along with being one of the quickest and easiest methods.
Heating tape
Electrical heating cable or heating tape, can be extremely beneficial for preventing frozen pipes, in particular, water pipes and pipes outside your house. Heating tape will work on both plastic pipes and metal pipes.
Keep the doors open
It is important to get the air circulating around the house, as this helps to prevent frozen pipes at home that are tucked away.
Whether the pipes are enclosed in a cupboard under the sink, or hidden behind doors under the stairs, keep the doors open so that the pipes can also benefit from the warm air.
Drain water
It is important to remember to drain the water from any garden equipment such as the garden hose, water sprinkler, even the swimming pool.
The problem with water, is when it freezes it will expand and is likely to damage items like hoses, meaning that you will have to buy one the following year. Save yourself the money, drain the water from these items and properly store them away for the sunny weather the following year.
Heating system
While this may be a costly solution, keeping your heating on during the day and at night, (even if you are away) will help to avoid your pipes from freezing. If they were to freeze and burst, then you could risk coming home to a water damaged property.
Regular Check
It is important to maintain a regular pipe check routine to ensure you don’t encounter any unexpected and costly problems in the future.
Despite insulating your pipes, there is still always the risk that they could freeze up.