Frozen pipes can be more than an inconvenience; they can lead to costly repairs and potentially irreparable water damage in your home.

Reducing pressure that builds as ice blocks the pipes requires opening faucets slightly in both your kitchen and bathrooms. Warming exposed or insulated pipes gently with a heating pad, hair dryer, space heater or hot towels is also an option.

1. Keep Your Thermostat Set to 55 Degrees

Frozen pipes can cause significant water damage in your home, particularly to your attic and basement. Repair costs associated with frozen pipe damage can quickly add up; so taking precautionary steps now to avoid frozen pipes during winter is vitally important.

Pipes tend to freeze due to sudden drops in temperature. One way of avoiding this scenario is keeping your thermostat set no lower than 55 degrees at all times, even while away. You could also open cabinet doors under sinks to let warm air circulate into cold areas of the home.

Uninsulated pipes usually start to freeze at approximately 20 degrees Fahrenheit; however, this is only an approximate rule; depending on their location and exposure they could also freeze at lower temperatures.

If your pipes have frozen, the first step to taking action should be switching off the main valve and then running a faucet at a trickle to allow water to flow freely and melt any ice plugs. Also essential is applying gentle heat via an electric heating pad, hair dryer, space heater or warm towels soaked with hot water – high-heat tools such as blowtorches or kerosene heaters can cause the pipe to burst!

2. Leave Faucets Running

Constant water flow contains some internal heat that prevents it from freezing as quickly as stagnant water does. Therefore, during especially harsh cold spells it’s wise to leave one or two faucets running at a low trickle rate during such extreme cold snaps. This will keep pipes from freezing while helping ensure the rest of your plumbing system continues functioning as it should; though leaving on some faucets might slightly increase your home water bill but is much cheaper than fixing frozen or burst pipes!

If you suspect frozen pipes – such as low or no water pressure from a spigot – open each faucet individually to check water pressure to see if frozen sections have thawed out. If not, apply heat directly to them (using a heating pad, electric hair dryer, portable space heater or towels soaked with hot water) until full water pressure returns.

Frozen pipes can often be found in unheated interior spaces like basements, attics and garages; or along exterior walls. To reduce the risk of freezing pipes in these locations, ensure any exposed piping is protected with insulation; check regularly under sink cabinets, in crawl spaces/basements as well as exterior walls for signs of frozen water accumulation.

3. Wrap Pipes in Insulation

Frozen pipes can be a serious headache for homeowners, causing water damage to floors, walls and furniture that often exceeds what most can afford to repair. Furthermore, these damages often disrupt family life for weeks or months afterward; but with some simple precautions taken beforehand they may help avert expensive plumbing catastrophe.

Exposed pipes are more prone to freezing temperatures, so it is vitally important that they are adequately insulated. Insulating the pipes in your crawl spaces and attic is especially effective, even in climates that do not usually experience freezing conditions. You can choose either foam pipe sleeves or heat tape as insulation solutions; just be sure to follow all installation and operation instructions precisely!

Open cabinet doors under sinks to let warm air circulate around your pipes, and turn off any water valves located beneath sinks prior to turning on any faucets, and be mindful of leaving faucets running for extended periods. Should your pipes freeze, defrosting them should take approximately 30 minutes if not exposed directly to cold or sunlight – use warm, hot water or a hair dryer set on low/medium heat as an efficient method.

4. Turn Off Water

Frozen pipes can cause costly water leaks and other forms of property damage in your home. They’re particularly at risk along poorly insulated exterior walls, in the attic, unheated crawl spaces or basements – however there are steps you can take this winter to help avoid frozen pipes altogether.

If you detect signs of frozen pipes (such as no running water or frost on your pipes), shut off your home’s main water line by using the valve located in your attic or basement. After turning off the water, turn on some faucets within your home in order to drain any ice plugs that may be blocking its flow and turn off all open flames and extreme heat sources in order to thaw out frozen pipes safely without risk of fire and pipe ruptures.

These tips may be the best way to prevent frozen pipes this winter, but it is impossible to completely prevent the possibility of them freezing due to sudden temperature drops or other unforseen circumstances. Frozen pipes can be an immense hassle and even pose health hazards – if this problem arises for you or anyone in your household this season, contact Thomas & Galbraith now so they can set up an appointment for professional plumbing services!