11/01/2016
Winter is coming!!! Make sure you're prepared for the changing weather. While it doesn't get really cold here for a month or two, this is a good time to prepare, so you're not scrambling when cold weather hits. Here are some things you can do to prepare:
1. Buy pipe insulation, here's a link to some at Home Depot: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-3-4-in-x-6-ft-Foam-Self-Seal-Pipe-Insulation-ORS07812/204760815 They are much less expensive than having a burst pipe repair. Insulate any pipes you can reach that are on an outside wall or in a crawl space.
2. Find the shut off for your house. There is one outside at the street, but it's difficult to turn off if you don't have a "water key." There should be a shut off inside your house. It should be wherever the waterline enters your house, usually in a mechanical room if you're on a slab and in a crawl space or basement if not. Make sure you and your family know how to shut it off. If your pipes freeze, sometimes you'll discover the problem immediately, but you may not realize they've frozen until they thaw out and water starts flooding your house. The plumber may not be able to get to you as fast as he would like because when your pipes freeze, so do your neighbors'. If you know how to shut off your water, you can minimize the damage while you wait for a plumber to get to you.
3. Protect your spigot/ hose bib/ outdoor faucet. Home improvement stores sell faucet covers for around $2, and they can protect your home from damage.
4. Leave indoor faucets on exterior walls dripping. Moving water doesn't freeze, at least at not at the temperatures normal for our part of the world.
5. Roll up all your hoses and store them away. They'll be no good to you in the spring if they freeze in the winter.
6. Put portable heaters in unfinished basements and crawl spaces to give your pipes a better chance of surviving.
7. If you have a faucet on an outside wall, open the cabinet doors below to let more heat get to the pipes.
None of this guarantees that your pipes won't freeze, but it doesn't hurt to try.
For an economical and energy efficient way to help prevent your pipes from freezing use the Everbilt Self Sealing Foam Pipe Insulation. This insulation is fire-rated helping ensure safety. R-Value is
