As winter weather approaches, take some preventive measures to avoid damage to your home. A frozen pipe bursting can lead to expensive repairs in just a few short minutes. Here are a few ways to prevent them:
Interior
Keep your house temperature at 68 degrees or higher, even if you're leaving the house for an extended period of time.
Open cabinet doors below sinks to allow heat from the home to circulate.
Locate all shut-off valves in your home and make sure they work
Seal any gaps around the home where cold air may penetrate and become in contact with piping. In the severe cold, even a tiny opening can let in enough cold air to cause a pipe to freeze. (Dryer vents, windows, doors etc)
Exterior
Identify areas where pipes are on outside walls, ceilings, attics, etc.
Disconnect all gardening hoses and install covers on all outside faucets.
Turn off and drain all standard outside hose bibs.
Wrap pipes nearest exterior walls with pipe insulation or with heating tape. This can prevent freezing, especially for interior pipes that run along outside walls.
If you plan to be away from home for an extended period of time, shut off water supply valves.