Frozen Pipes

As temperatures lower, we advise homeowners to integrate some changes to keep homes protected and warm during the winter. Here are some helpful tips to keep your plumbing running efficiently this season:

• Open your kitchen & bathroom cabinets

1. 1. This will allow warm air from your home to circulate the plumbing.
   2. Remove harmful cleaners and chemicals out of reach of children and pets.

• Let the cold water drip from the faucet

1. 1. The water may run as little as a trickle so you don’t waste too much.

• Maintain the same temperature during the day AND night.

1. 1. Adjusting may contribute to a higher heating bill.

• Close your garage doors.

1. 1. Helps keep your garage insulated with heat from the home.

• Use outside faucet covers.

1. 1. Install cover around your outdoor faucet for full cold weather protection.
   2. For some ideas on where to find them, see the links below:
      1. Home Depot
      2. Lowes
      3. Amazon

Although useful, this advice only addresses PREVENTATIVE methods. The tips above are great ways to prevent potential freezes from your pipes when you see a cold front coming. But what should you do if the freeze has already happened, but we haven’t thawed quite yet? This could lead to a potentially dangerous (and possibly expensive) fix to keep your home safe.

The bursting of pipes does not happen because of the freeze itself. In fact, the reason why pipes burst is AFTER the freezing, when water starts to move again as the warmer weather allows water to flow more freely. This could potentially add too much volume in the pipes, causing clogging by the previous frozen water to allow proper flow. Improper water flow and clogged waterways equals a recipe for burst pipes after the snowpocalypse! Hence, bursting pipes post-freeze are common and are extremely costly to remedy should this happen in your home.

But don’t worry, because you can still prevent potential pipes bursting in your home in the case you forgot to take preventative measures. Just follow some of the steps below, and hopefully your home should be safe as warmer weather creeps in:

• Locate and turn off the main water valve

1. 1. When you know the freeze is about to turn over, this is one way to prevent water from bursting from clogged pipes before thawing completely or properly.

• Use your heat lamps, hairdryers, etc.

1. 1. Use these to safely and gradually thaw out the pipes to help the thawing process along once the freeze stops before the water flow does it for you.

• Know a good plumber

1. 1. If the freeze is too drastic and there are no other solutions, be sure to have a reliable plumber in mind to call.
   2. While the plumber is there, be sure to ask for further assistance/advice, so the next time the freeze comes around, you’ll be more prepared with some upgrades, tactics, and other helpful tips.

Hopefully we won’t have to reach this stage, but if before and during the icy weather your home still experiences bursting pipes, here are the next steps to help remedy the damage:

• Grab your mop and bucket

1. 1. Good ol’ fashioned clean up to start.

• Drain your faucets

1. 1. Let the water flow after the thawing has been done.
   2. Helps clear out all the other pipes around your home to allow proper flow.

• Use repair sleeves and/or tapes

1. 1. These are temporary fixes to keep the water in place.
   2. Do not use these as a permanent fix! Call a plumber to properly have your pipes fixed where needed.
   3. For some ideas on where to find them, see the links below:
      1. Home Depot
      2. Lowes
      3. Amazon

We hope you’re staying warm this winter! Although Texas is usually over 100 degrees, it’s best to prepare for this type of crazy weather. Most homes do not accommodate for the freezes, so be sure to have this list handy for when the time comes every year.