GAITHERSBURG, Md. – As temperatures plummet and cold weather settles in, frozen pipes could pose a costly problem if proper precautions are not taken.
‘‘The best way to prevent the inconvenience of frozen pipes is to winterize your plumbing system prior to harsh winter weather,” said Jerry Shields of the Mr. Rooter® of Suburban Maryland franchise. ‘‘It can save homeowners the expense and time of repairing burst pipes.”
Mr. Rooter offers these tips to help lower the potential of frozen pipes:
Insulate your pipes
Cover faucets and exposed pipes with insulation or wrap thick towels around them.
Secure all basement doors, windows and crawl space openings
This keeps cold wind away from the pipes.
Apply electrically-powered heat tape
How to Keep Frozen Pipes from being a Drain on Your Pocketbook Use products approved by an independent testing organization and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Keep faucets running
A small trickle of water or a constant drip will help prevent pipes from freezing.
Open cabinet doors
This allows heat to circulate under the sink to keep interior pipes warm.
Drain outside water lines
Remove garden hoses from outdoor faucets and open the outside hose taps to allow water to drain.
Locate the main water shut-off valve
Learn how to use it in case pipes freeze and burst.
If pipes do freeze follow these procedures to safely thaw them:
Turn off the water at the shut-off valve.
Open the nearest faucet – this allows water to drain out as the ice melts.
Heat the exterior of the pipe with a hair dryer – apply heat slowly and don’t keep heat in one spot.
Do NOT attempt to thaw exposed frozen pipes with an open flame, such as an acetylene torch.
If pipes do burst and need immediate repair, call a qualified, licensed plumber.
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