5 Winterizing Hacks to Keep Your Pipes From Bursting in Frigid Temperatures



All homeowners who live in temperate climates must do their best to winterize their pipes. It is something you must do during autumn before deep winter truly begins. Failure to do so can spell disaster like frozen, cracked, or burst pipes. Here are some handy winterizing hacks to keep your plumbing system protected even if the weather outside is frightful.

Turn On the Faucets

When the temperature drops and it seems as if the frigid temperature will last, it will help to turn on your water both indoors and outdoors. This will keep the water flowing through your plumbing systems. In addition, the movement will slow down the freezing process. Notably, there’s no need to turn it on full blast. You’ll end up wasting gallons of water this way. Instead, aim for about 5 drops per minute.


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Open Cabinet Doors Hiding Plumbing

When it’s cold outside, it would be helpful to open cabinet doors that are camouflaging your pipes. For example, they could be somewhere in your kitchen or bathroom. This will allow the warm air from your heater to circulate there. As a result, you prevent these exposed pipes from freezing. Doing this small trick can keep your pipes warm and limit the potentially dangerous outcomes of freezing temperatures.

Take Time to Wrap Exposed Pipes

One nifty and easy hack to warm up frigid pipes is to wrap them with warm towels. You can cover them first with towels. After securing them in place, you can pour boiling water on the towels. Do it slowly to let the towels absorb the liquid. You can also use pre-soaked towels in hot water, just don’t forget to wear protective gloves to safeguard your hands from the heat.

Try a Hair Dryer or Heat Gun

When your pipes are almost freezing, your trusty hair dryer or heat gun is a godsend. If the hot towels do not help dislodge any settling ice in your pipes, bowling hot air directly into them may help. However, do not use other objects that produce direct flames like a blow torch. This can result in a bigger disaster that you cannot control. You may end up damaging your pipes while trying to melt the ice. And in the long run, you may even wind up burning your house. So beware!

Shut Off Water When Pipes are Frozen

Turn off the main water valve immediately if you notice that your pipes are completely frozen or almost nearing that stage. You will usually find this in your basement or utility room near the heater or the front wall closest to the street. Turn it off right away to prevent further damage.

Don’t forget to close external water sources, too, such as your hookup for the garden house. Doing this will prevent additional water from filling up your plumbing system. Unfortunately, with more water, more ice will pile up, which will eventually lead to burst pipes. If you are unsure about the state of your pipes this winter, it is best to call a professional plumber for an inspection. Taking this proactive approach can save you thousands of dollars in repairs.

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