Tips to Avoid Bursting Pipes

3/20/2017 (Permalink)

Tips to Avoid Bursting Pipes

With South Carolina, you never quite know how the weather is going to be. One week it could feel like summer and the next we have a freeze warning. The damages, expenses and the messes that can be caused from a water line that freezes and bursts are nothing that anyone wants to experience. While we can’t stop, the leaks caused by temperature drops, there are things you can do to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting. Here are some helpful tips.

Things to do outside:

• Wrap outside faucets. There is a product called heat tape that can be installed and will warm pipes as needed during cold weather.
• Caulk around pipes where they enter the house. Look for air leaks around electrical wiring, dryer vents, and pipes. Use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out. With severe cold, even a tiny opening can let the cold air inside your home, causing your pipes to freeze.
• Disconnect garden hoses.
• Drain in-ground sprinkler systems.

Things to do Inside:

• Let a stream of water run, if the temperature drops below freezing. It is advised that you let your water run in the farthest sink away from where your main water pipe is located.
• Open cupboard doors in the kitchen and bathroom.
• Shut off and drain your water system if you are leaving home for several days.