Frozen Pizza, Frozen Yogurt, Frozen Pipes – Which Is Not Like the Other?

There are lots of things in this world that are pleasing when you think of frozen things. Ice cream is tasty, ice skating is fun, and ice cubes keep your drinks cold in the summer.

But in the winter, there is a certain kind of frozen you just can’t “Let it Go.”  That would be frozen pipes in your home, and let’s just say that creating a winter wonderland in your basement is NOT a good thing. Here are some ideas from the Getzschman team to make sure your pipes are always operational.

Know Where Your Pipes Are Located to Prevent Freezing

Most people don’t think of where their water pipes are located – they just turn on the faucet and know the water will come out (unless you forget to pay the water bill, which is an entirely different problem!)

But where your pipes are located can actually make a difference as to  whether they freeze or not. Here are some typical pipe locations:

Crawlspaces. If your home has a crawlspace under it, there is a good chance some of your water pipes are located down there.  Make sure you seal all the cracks that could let cold air into the crawlspace. Also, you can put insulation up between the floor joists so it  wraps around the water pipes.  

Exterior Walls. Sometimes, a home with a kitchen or bathroom sink on an outside wall may have pipes running in those walls. If you can access those areas, wrap your water pipes with a foam sleeve to protect them from the cold. On extremely cold nights, open the doors of your kitchen and bathroom cabinets so warm air can enter those spaces.

Drip, Drip, Drip – The Sound That You WANT to Hear

Usually, when you hear that dripping sound, that means something is wrong in your house. But in extreme freezing conditions, that dripping can be a good thing. If you see that the temperatures are going into a deep freeze, turn your faucets on to a slow drip. That will keep water flowing through your pipes and prevent them from freezing.

If your home is a two-story, turn on one of the faucets upstairs – preferably one that is on an outside wall. And don’t forget to leave those cabinet doors open.

These tips should help keep your pipes from freezing, and let you enjoy that nice ice cream cone while ice skating on a frozen pond – outside, of course, and not in your basement! For more helpful tips, be sure to follow the Getzschman Heating & Cooling blog.