We know, we know. It’s only September. You don’t want to be thinking about the snow and ice that winter will bring quite yet. Of course, you also know that September is not too early to start thinking about the winter season. Not around here it isn’t. We know it, you know it, and our plumbers in New Hampshire know it. That’s why we want to remind you of some ways that you can protect your plumbing this winter.
One of the biggest issues that any homeowner might face during the winter months is frozen pipes. While we may not be able to guarantee with 100% certainty that you will never encounter frozen pipes on your property, we can guarantee that taking a few simple steps can greatly reduce the risk of running into any such problems. So keep the following information in mind, and be sure to let us know if you have any concerns, weather-related or otherwise, about your plumbing pipes.
Insulate Your Pipes
Just like that picture up there shows, insulating your pipes is quite simple. In fact, all you need is a very cheap bit of supplies and maybe a knife. Slit the sleeve (or buy pre-split product) and wrap it around the pipe. Make sure that the diameter allows for full coverage, but isn’t loose. And there you have it. Your pipes are now insulated.
Which pipes should you worry about insulating? Well, any exposed water supply pipe, really. These pipes are not going to be completely void of water, even if they’re not used all that much. That means that water inside of them can freeze, expand, and lead to bursting. That can lead to a very expensive repair job. You should also buy insulating covers for outdoor hose bibbs.
Leave a Trickle Running
We understand why some homeowners are hesitant about this suggestion. You feel like you’re wasting money on water you’re not using. You feel like you’re wasting resources that you are not using. However, you are using the water. The fact that you’re not drinking it or cleaning with it doesn’t mean that it’s going to waste.
That tiny trickle of water through your pipes may be enough to prevent a burst pipe situation, and that is a very costly and very wasteful occurrence. So, yes, there is some water going straight down the drain. But that pales in comparison to the cost and waste that you’ll encounter if you should let your pipes freeze up and burst.
Open Up Those Cabinets!
Wait, what? No, we don’t mean that you have to put your dry goods or medicines on display. We just mean that you may want to open up your cabinets in order to let some heated air flow over pipes that may run behind them. Oftentimes, this bit of heat from the living space is going to be enough to ward off problems caused by freezing water within those pipes.
Contact HB Energy Solutions for all your energy needs. HB Energy Solutions delivers peace of mind.
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