Destination Homes

Avoid Frozen Pipes

Before the cold hits:
Insulate pipes in your home's crawl spaces, garage and unfinished basement and attic. These exposed pipes are most susceptible to freezing. The more insulation the better. Disconnect garden hoses and insulate all outdoor hose bibs, especially those on the north side of your home. Seal leaks that allow cold air inside near where pipes are located. Look for air leaks around electrical wiring, dryer vents and pipes. Use spray in foam insulation to seal these openings.
Before you go away:
Set your thermostat in your home no lower than 55 degrees. Ask a friend or neighbor to check your house daily to make sure it's warm enough to prevent freezing or shut off and drain your water system.
If your pipes freeze:
If you turn on the faucet and nothing comes out, leave the faucet on for water to drain from and so you can see when the water starts flowing again. You may be able to thaw a frozen pipe with a hair dryer, heat gun or heat tape. Never attempt to thaw a pipe with a torch or open flame. If you detect that your water pipes have frozen and burst, turn off the water at the main shut off valve in the house, usually on the front side of your home in the basement or crawl space.