Did you know that burst pipes are one of the most common causes of property damage in the winter? We want to save you the headache and extra expense of burst pipes by providing some helpful tips on how to avoid them.
Home Temperature
Don’t ever set your thermostat to lower than 55 degrees F, even if you’re going to be out of town. In fact, experts recommend keeping your home temperature the same whether it’s day or night during winter. The savings cost of reducing your heat at night isn’t worth what the expense of damages will be due to a burst pipe.
Keep Faucets Dripping
Let cold water drip from all faucets during extreme cold. This keeps running water through the pipes and helps prevent freezing. We also recommend setting your dishwasher to run in the middle of the night when temperatures are coldest to help prevent freezing pipes.
Watch Those Doors
Keep garage doors closed to keep the heat in. Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to help heat circulate to the pipes.
Exterior Water Sources
Always drain water from places like irrigation pipes, swimming pool lines, and outside appliances.
Taking Extra Steps
For long term peace of mind, we also recommend insulating where possible. That includes pipes, attics, basements, and crawl spaces – which helps maintain higher temperatures. We also recommend sealing any openings or cracks around windows and doors.
If you’re looking for someone to help prevent burst pipes at your home, consider Simplified’s Home Management services. We help provide peace of mind for all of your home needs.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in February 2020 and was updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.