When temperatures drop, the risk of your home’s pipes freezing or bursting increases quickly. In fact, frozen pipes are one of the most common causes of property damage in the winter. Freezing pipes are not cheap to fix, either. Burst pipes could easily cost thousands of dollars to repair or replace. So, it’s critical to take some extra precautions when you know frigid temperatures are coming. Here’s how to prevent frozen pipes.
At-Risk Pipes
The pipes in your home that are most vulnerable to freezing temperatures are in unheated interior spaces like your basement, attic, or garage. The good news is that adding a little insulation to pipes in those areas is not very expensive. You could spend as little as 50 cents a linear foot at your local hardware store to prevent potentially thousands of dollars in damage.
Run That Water
Frozen pipes happen most commonly when people are on vacation because they’re not being used. When cold temperatures hit, make sure you’re running warm water frequently in your home. If you have a faucet in your home with exposed pipes, let a slow cold trickle run. Even a little bit of water can prevent freezing.
Don’t Turn Your Heat Down at Night
If you usually turn your thermostat down 10+ degrees overnight, don’t plan on doing that when the outside temperature plummets. Instead, keep the thermostat set to something within 5 degrees of the average temperature inside your home. It may be tempting to keep it low to save on energy costs but think of the expenses you’ll have if your pipes freeze.
Stay warm this winter, and remember to keep Leigh Agency in mind for all your home and family insurance needs. Our team is ready to take your call and answer your questions!