Here are a few bonus tips to preventing frozen plumbing water pipes as the Midwest and East coast are experiencing record breaking low weather temperatures this winter. With temperatures ranges from – 10 to – 40 degrees people are scrambling to protect their indoor plumbing to maintain a supply of water and avoid costly repairs.
Open cabinet doors under sinks and pull out cabinet drawers to allow heat from the room to circulate around uninsulated pipes.
Allow a small constant trickle of cold water to drip in an effort to keep the plumbing from freezing.
Insulate all pipes in unheated areas or against uninsulated outside walls.
Apply heat tape or thermostat-controlled heat cables around pipes that are exposed and prone to freezing.
If your plumbing pipes have already frozen, shut off the water main leading into your home to reduce pressure on frozen pipes and minimize flooding if the pipes burst.
You can use a hair dryer to thaw an ice blockage if the frozen pipe is exposed and visible.
