In one of our previous posts, we discussed what to do in case the water pipes in your home were frozen; and while that information is certainly pertinent, there are some steps you can take to prevent the freeze from happening as Kentucky continues its march into a cold winter. The helpful crew at GreenBox Home Services have some tips and tricks to consider when winterizing your pipes because stopping an issue before it becomes one goes a long way when it comes to preventative do-it-yourself plumbing. Not that we’ll make you certified plumbers–that training course is much longer and more arduous than merely reading the standard blog post–however, we will give you some proven ideas on how to protect your plumbing when Central Kentucky’s temperature falls.
A Little Extra Insulation Goes A Long Way
When one of your water pipes is exposed to cold air, naturally, it is susceptible to freezing. There are, however, some simple steps you can take to protect any exposed pipes. If you have any excess insulation from a previous home improvement project, it can be used here to cover areas that might be allowing the cold air access to your pipes. For instance, if your crawl space has a crack/opening in it that lets air in, cover that with some of your excess insulation. The goal here is to prevent as much of the cold air from reaching your pipes, and using excess padding to cover potential trouble spots only helps.
Bathroom Pipes On Outside Wall?
If your bathroom plumbing system has its pipes running along the outside wall of your bathroom, you may want to consider the following steps to prevent any unwanted freezing. Because, really, who in the world wants to deal with a busted pipe, especially if it’s in the winter? The obvious answer is, no one. With that in mind, if your bathroom pipes are close or exposed to the cold air, consider keeping a cabinet door open, allowing the warm air access to a potential trouble spot. If the temperature is supposed to drop below freezing, perhaps bringing a small, personal heater to warm the wall your bathroom pipes reside in, coupled with a fan to help circulate the air, can be really beneficial.
Outside Water Outlets
Don’t forget about your outside water spigots, either. While the standard reaction is to “drip” them when the weather gets cold, there are other options you can take to prevent these pipes from succumbing to the elements. First and foremost, if it’s going to get really cold outside and your outside water spigots can be shut off separately from the rest of the house’s water supply, do so. Once this is done, make sure you drain the excess water to prevent it from freezing, as well. Following these simple steps can help save you from the expensive, frustrating experience of having to fix busted plumbing pipes which fall victim to Kentucky’s bitterly cold winters.
The GreenBox Home Services Are Here To Help!
If you are unsure about whether your pipes are protected from the winter, don’t hesitate to give the GreenBox Home Services a call at (859) 278-0281, and we’ll be happy to help answer any questions or give any advice you may need. If you’d like us to check your area out to be sure your home is protected, you can set up an appointment through our site or by calling us directly. We also offer 24/7 emergency services for the entire Central Kentucky area, just in case you have a plumbing issue that cannot wait for the next available date.
