Frozen Pipe Prevention Tips for Your Property

As the winter months approach, setting aside time to do a few general Housekeeping 101 items is crucial to ensure your home is prepared for the drastic change in weather. One of the single largest insurance claims we see at Quality Disaster Cleanup during the winter months are pipes that have frozen due to the rapid drop in temperature. Many people inquire about how they can winterize their home and protect against it from the colder weather. Every homeowner can do a few simple things to help minimize the risk of having frozen pipes on their property. Below we will discuss eight tips to help you winterize your home and protect it from frozen pipes and extensive water damages.

Disconnect All Hoses

Disconnect any hoses that you have connected to the house. Water Hoses connected to the outdoor spigot freeze faster than any other pipe because it’s on the house’s exterior. Once the hoses are disconnected, the outdoor spigots need to be insulated to ensure they are fully protected.

Never Turn Your Heat Off

If you go on vacation, never turn your heat down. Keep it at the normal temperature you usually do. It may cost a little more in energy usage but is much cheaper than a flooded house, and the water damages you will accrue.

Drip Your Faucets

If you have plumbing systems on your property’s exterior walls, it may be necessary to keep the faucet dripping at night, so the pipes don’t freeze. This works because it is much more difficult to freeze moving/circulating water than if it’s stagnant.

Turn Your Main Water Valve Off

If you go on vacation, turn the main water valve to your home off. It’s hard for a house to flood when the water is off. This simple step can save you a lot of money in water damages and possible mold growth.

Do Not Use Outdoor Spigots

Many people like to fill up the dog/cat bowl with the outside spigot. We suggest filling up the dog/cat bowls inside instead of outside. Using your outdoor spigot leaves a small amount of residual water that stays in the pipe. On a cold day, this can freeze quickly, causing pipes to freeze.

Sprinkler System Winterization

Make sure to winterize your sprinkling system. This is a crucial step because you will likely have broken pipes when the weather warms during the Spring.

Outdoor Spigot Covers

Insulated Covers that you can place over your hose bib outside are the best way to protect your outdoor hose bibs from freezing.

Open Cabinet Doors

When the temperatures drop lower than average, it is necessary to open the cabinet doors in your bathrooms and kitchens. This allows hot air to enter those areas and keep the pipes at room temperature, ensuring they do not freeze.

If you have frozen pipes that burst, causing water damages, Quality Disaster Services is here for Salt Lake City, Layton, Ogden, and other areas of Utah. We provide water damage cleanup and other emergency disaster cleanup services for residential and commercial properties.

Finally…Enjoy the holiday season knowing you have protected your home from Mother Nature!