Winter Is Coming: How To Protect Your Pipes

With winter on the way, it's vital for homeowners to take a few steps to prevent their pipes from freezing. A press release from Illinois American Water reminds homeowners that now is the time to take action, not when it's already winter.

"We want to remind customers that sub-freezing temperatures for an extended period can cause pipes in vulnerable areas to freeze and burst, resulting in costly damage," said Mike Smyth, vice president of operations at Illinois American Water. "By taking preventative steps now, customers can avoid frozen pipes and water meters and the need to make expensive repairs to damaged plumbing inside and outside of the home."

So, to prevent those costly frozen pipes, here's what you can do:

Before Winter: be sure to take some preparatory measures before the frigid weather sets in.

• Know which areas of your home are especially vulnerable to freezing (basements, crawlspaces, attics, outside walls).
• Insulate your house by repairing damaged walls, put plastic over your windows and close off drafty areas.
• Know exactly where your main water shut-off valve is. In the case of frozen pipes, you'll have to shut the water off.
• Wrap your pipes in insulation or use an electrical heat wire. Keep the lid to your water meter pit closed tightly. When it gets snowed on, leave it there; snow is an excellent insulator.

Winter is Here: when the cold really sets in, old and faulty piping needs frequent care to prevent further damage.

• If you have pipes vulnerable to freezing and cannot insulate them, let a small trickle of water run overnight because moving water won't freeze as easily. The cost of the extra water is nothing next to the cost of new piping, Illinois American Water says. Don't just let the water go down the drain: capture it for use in house plants or other uses.
• Open doors to rooms with piping to help keep them in heated areas rather than neglecting them.

Good luck!

Article image public domain via Pixabay