During the cold of winter, a call to the plumber is often a bigger emergency than a clogged drain. Frozen pipes are the leading cause of property damage during severe winter weather. Save yourself the headaches and repair costs by following these steps to make sure this disaster doesn’t happen to you.

How to Keep Your Pipes Warm This Winter

1. Let Your Faucet Drip

We usually think of leaky faucets as a reason to call a plumber. However, running water through your pipes is an excellent way to keep them from bursting in the winter. Opening the faucet keeps water running through your plumbing system, and as long as it’s moving, the water won’t freeze and cause the pipes to burst. Even a little trickle or drip of water helps.

2. Don’t Turn the Heat Off When You Leave

It may be tempting to turn the heat down when you go on vacation because you think you’ll save money on your heating bill. This can backfire, as your home can get very cold, causing the pipes to burst. Even worse, you won’t be able to contain the damage because you’ll be away when the leak starts. To be safe, keep your thermostat at about 55 F.

3. Add Insulation

If you have pipes in your home that aren’t insulated, you should have a plumber see if they are at risk of freezing. Often, pipes without insulation in basements or attics are more prone to bursting because they‘re more exposed to the elements. Pipes can be wrapped in insulating foam, rubber, or fiberglass sleeves, and insulation can be added to walls to protect interior pipes.

4. Keep Interior Doors Open

Closing off parts of your home can make them colder, putting the pipes at higher risk of freezing. Leave the interior doors open throughout your home to distribute heat evenly. You should also leave cabinet doors open if there are pipes located underneath, like under your kitchen sink. This helps keep the pipes warm and can be especially helpful if the pipes are against an exterior wall.

Economy Plumbing in High Point, NC can assist you with all of your plumbing service needs. Their plumbers can inspect your pipes to see whether they’re properly insulated and provide advice about how to protect your home from the winter weather. If a pipe does burst in your home, they can use their advanced equipment to repair the damage. Visit their website or call (336) 883-4491 to learn more.