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Preventing Frozen Pipes: 4 Steps All Homeowners Can Take

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Water damage from a frozen or burst pipe is something no homeowner ever wants to deal with. Unfortunately, during the frigid months of winter, it's a very common and potentially expensive problem. The good news is that frozen and burst pipes are always preventable. Specifically, there are several easy steps all homeowners can take to greatly reduce the chances of frozen pipes on a property.

Keep Faucets Running Slowly

One of the best ways to prevent pipes from freezing is to make sure water is moving through the pipes at all times, even if the water is only moving slowly. The best way to do this without wasting a bunch of water in the process is to simply leave the faucets in your home slowly trickling while temperatures are below freezing. This won't have a significant impact on your water bill but can save you hundreds or thousands by preventing pipes from bursting.

Leave Cabinet Doors Open

A lot of times, pipes underneath sinks (such as those in a kitchen or bathroom) are susceptible to freezing because they're located in cabinets that don't receive much warm air circulation from the home's furnace. This is especially dangerous for sinks that are located along exterior walls, which tend to be the coldest areas of the home. To remedy this, keep cabinets open while temperatures are below freezing; just be sure to remove any potentially dangerous chemicals from said cabinets if you have any pets or small children in the home.

Apply Heat Tape to Pipes

Another option to consider for protecting your pipes from freezing temperatures is to apply a product known as heat tape around the pipes themselves. This kind of tape works to insulate exposed pipes and is easy to apply without the help of a professional. You can pick it up at any home improvement or hardware store, along with some grocery stores as well.

Direct Warm Air to Exterior Walls

Last but not least, be sure to assess your home for drafty areas and make an effort to direct warm air to these areas when the temperatures get dangerously low. For example, if your basement gets especially cold during the winter and you have pipes down there that you're worried about, consider beefing up your HVAC system or even plug in a space heater downstairs to increase temperatures and reduce chances of burst or frozen pipes.

If your pipes have already burst, contact a water damage repair service like Servicemaster Of Martinsburg & Hagerstown and then follow these tips to avoid another incident.


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