Preventing Frozen Pipes During Winter

10/16/2019 (Permalink)

Winter is coming, and in Chicago temperatures can drop to dangerous levels. In addition to all the other problems that come with snow and sub-zero temperatures, freezing pipes can cause massive, costly damage to your property. Frozen pipes are one of the most common causes of property damage during the winter because they often fracture and break as they become ice-cold in temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Ultimately, they can end up costing a lot of money depending the severity. Pipes can break and flood, and they can cause water damage in walls and foundations. Thankfully, there are some steps you can take to prevent them from freezing in most cases.

1. Let cold water drip from your faucet. This is a simple method that will help prevent exposed pipes from freezing by creating a flow. Although this is not a guaranteed method, it can often help.
2. Always keep the thermostat on. Even if you leave the house, you should always leave it at least at 55 degrees. While it can be costly to leave the heat on, it is far less expensive than fixing your plumbing and/or cleaning up a flooded area of the property.
3. Add insulation. Adding insulation to exposed pipes can help a lot. This is time consuming, but it doesn’t cost much and helps in the long run. Also, make sure to seal any cracks in drywall or any other place that has plumbing running through it.

If you find your pipes are already frozen and not fractured or broken, you can try running water through it or heating it up. These methods of prevention are affordable and pretty simple, so as long as you’re diligent, ideally you will not have to experience this issue. However, if a problem occurs, or if you just have any questions, give us a call at SERVPRO of Northbrook / Wheeling / Glencoe, (847) 498-8889.