Here in Rhode Island, our homes are often exposed to extreme cold temperatures during the winter months. It doesn’t take much for the cold to creep in and wreak havoc on your plumbing — which can affect your heating system as well if you have a boiler.
Do you have faucet hookups or exposed pipes in your home which may be vulnerable to freezing this winter? Here’s what you need to know about pipe freezing and what you can do to keep your pipes warm all winter.
Why Are Frozen Pipes Dangerous?
Water expands as it freezes, and as you can imagine, this is bad news for your pipes (not to mention your home comfort.) When water inside a pipe freezes, the block causes pressure to build along the edge of the pipe until ultimately, the pipe bursts. This burst can happen several feet away from where the blockage occurred, resulting in a complicated issue that requires costly repairs.
How Do I Keep My Pipes from Freezing?
The pipes that are most vulnerable to freezing are those that run through uninsulated areas in the house — such as the garage, attic, and basement or crawl space. In order to stop your pipes from freezing, it’s important to target these areas first.
Here are a few simple steps you can take on your own to keep your pipes warm all winter.
Drain Water from Outdoor Supply Lines
Close valves that supply water to outside faucets and leave those outside faucets on. Also be sure to remove, drain, and store hoses that are used outdoors. Complete this important task every fall as part of your home winterization checklist.
Keep the Heat On
It may be tempting to turn the heat off when you head out of town, but be sure to keep the heat set to at least 55°F — especially if you heat your home with a boiler.
Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors.
Many Rhode Island homeowners forget that even indoor pipes can be vulnerable to freezing — especially those in cabinets next to an under-insulated exterior wall. Keeping kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors open will allow some warm air to circulate around your plumbing.
Let faucets in problem areas drip.
For faucets that are located in problem areas, leave the faucet on at a slow trickle. Even a little running water can help prevent pipes from freezing.
In addition to these easy DIY steps, it’s also a good idea to consider an insulation upgrade for your attic, garage, and basement or crawl space.
Worried About Frozen Pipes? Talk to CARJON
Our team is here to help you avoid pipe bursts and keep your heating system running smoothly all winter. If you have concerns about frozen pipes and want to make sure your boiler heating system runs smoothly this winter, get in touch today! We even offer residential maintenance agreements which come with regular scheduled checkups in order to keep heating systems running at their best.
