As temperatures drop and the snow falls, it’s time to enjoy winter activities like skiing, skating and sledding. It’s also a time to take extra care and precautions for your home. Winterizing – or preparing your home for winter – can help prevent any issues that could come up so you can enjoy all the season has to offer.
Freezing pipes is a common but preventable issue that many homeowners face. As water freezes into ice, it expands, resulting in added pressure on the pipes that could cause a rupture.
Protecting Your Home as Temperatures Drop to Zero Degrees
As the temperature reaches zero degrees, consider these steps below to protect your home.
- Keep the thermostat at 18 degrees Celsius or above, day and night. Make sure all inside doors are open, so warm air can easily circulate.
- Drain and shut off any water supply to the outside. Install frost-proof spigots or protect them from freezing with faucet insulators.
- Add insulation to outside walls that contain pipes. If you see moisture or mold, or your walls feel cold to the touch, consider reinsulating or using spray foam to add protection.
- Use snap-on insulation for pipes in unheated areas. You can also use heated plumbing tape or cable that automatically turns on when temperatures approach freezing.
- Install smart technology, such as low temperature sensors, “smart” thermostats, back-up generators and water leak detection systems.
What to Do if You Think Your Pipes Are Frozen
- Keep the faucet open, with both cold and hot water running, to slowly unfreeze the pipes.
- Turn your thermostat up to increase the warmth of the surrounding air.
- Contact a licensed plumber if you are not certain where the freeze is because you may cause the pipe to burst if you’re not concentrating on the right area.
If A Pipe Bursts
- Turn off the water leading to the pipe to prevent additional water from flowing and damaging your home.
- Contact a licensed plumber to fix the problem.
- Take pictures of damage to both the building and its contents for insurance purposes.
- Notify NFP right away if you believe you will have a claim to file.
While you can take steps to prevent burst pipes this winter season, we know accidents can happen. When they do, NFP is here to advocate for you and help you navigate the claims process.