This has been a very cold winter for many parts of the United States. Freezing temperatures for prolonged periods of time have been seen in most states.
During prolonged freezing temperatures, you need to ensure that your pipes do not freeze and burst. Broken pipes will cause immediate flooding in your home, creating sheetrock damage, ceiling damage, and destruction of floors and carpets.
The easiest way to ensure that your pipes don’t freeze is to know how well the pipes were insulated. If you have never checked your exposed water pipe insulation, this is an easy job. Simply visually inspect all water pipes. Appropriate insulation should surround each pipe. If no insulation is present, local homeowner’s stores sell these relatively inexpensively. Homeowner’s can then apply the insulation around the pipe, securing with tape for colder months.
If you did not have time to check the pipe insulation, on cold nights and whenever the temperature is expected to be below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, you should leave water trickling in a sink. One water outlet generally is fine, and a slow drip is all that is needed to keep the water moving through the pipes.
If this fails, and you notice water stains, standing water in your basement or bottom floor, or signs of a burst pipe such as a lack of water pressure or water stream when turning the water on, you should immediately contact your local professional plumber for an emergency water line repair. Turn the water off at the main entrance point, usually at the street water meter, and wait for help to arrive. During this time, you should also consider calling your homeowner’s insurance policy to see if any assistance is available to you for repairs and clean up.
