How To Prepare Your Plumbing for Cold Weather This Year
If you live in a zone that experiences very cold winters, you know how important it is to prep your plumbing fixtures for the weather. It is usually not just about keeping the house warm, but your fittings as well. Since water can change form from solid or liquid to gases, it is susceptible to freezing when the temperature drops below zero degrees Celsius. The plumbing pros from Overland Park recognize the importance of preventative maintenance to prevent home plumbing disasters.
While there is no issue with water freezing like the ice cubes in your freezer, a major catastrophe could occur if the ice starts to build in your plumbing. The cracking of a frozen pipe could lead to water damage in your house. Luckily, you can take precautions to lessen the likelihood of a disaster and relax.
Monitor Your Home’s Temperature
Your cellphone may be used to track and regulate the temperature in your home thanks to a Wi-Fi thermostat. A message or email alert will be sent to the phone if the temperature in your home decreases. There are many alert system varieties on the market. Most use a phone jack in your home to transmit notifications to your mobile phone, while others notify a landline or cellular telephone.
Encapsulate the Rim Joists
Cold air can enter via the rim joist. Insulate between the floor joists after using expanding foam to seal any gaps or cracks. A pipe shouldn’t be protected from the heat of the rest of the home by insulation. Additionally, check the area around any openings where cables, wires, or pipes enter an outside wall. Wherever you can, insulate and use caulk or expanding foam to stop drafts.
Insulate Your Pipes
Use heat cable and wrap it in insulators if piping is in an unheated room, such as a basement, attic, or storage. Pipe insulation by itself is ineffective since it won’t take long for cold air to reach the unheated pipes. In reality, if pipes are only insulated, warm air may not reach them, particularly if heat cable is not used.
Get Heat Cables
Heat cables can work wonders for delicate piping. To prevent the pipe from freezing, they contain an integrated regulator that monitors the temperature of the line and controls the heat as necessary. The wire must be plugged into an accessible outlet to work as intended.
Leave Faucets Running When the Cold Gets Worse
The pressure that accumulates when pipes freeze can be released by a dripping faucet. By relieving the pressure, frozen pipes can avoid fracturing. Your upcoming water bill will increase slightly, but that is a little price to pay compared to costly home repairs. However, if the drainage is on an outside wall, do not keep the tap open since the drain may freeze, resulting in an overflowing sink.
