Even a small amount of water can cause cracks and freezing pipes.

With winter weather right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to think about the pipes and plumbing running through your house. Heat-proofing, or winter-proofing, your pipes will help prevent frozen, cracking, or busting pipes (and, in turn, a large bill and a lot of headaches).

Reasons to Heat-Proof Your Plumbing

• Reduce heat loss
• Prevent freezing and burst pipes
• Lower water heating costs
• Eliminate pipe sweating/condensation
• Less time to wait for the water to warm in faucets

Insulating hot water pipes can help reduce heat loss as well as raise the water temperature two to four degrees hotter than if they were uninsulated. A bonus of this is that it can also make water heat up quicker coming out of a faucet. No more waiting around for the shower to heat up before getting in!

Use pipe insulation or heat tape to cover exposed pipes. Pay close attention to pipes that may run through unheated areas of the house, such as the garage or attic.

Ways to Prevent Your Pipes From Freezing

• Keep garage doors closed
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinets so that heat can keep the pipes warm (especially true for pipes on exterior walls)
• Let cold and hot water drip slowly from a faucet overnight (this helps keep pipes from freezing as water is continuously moving through the pipes)
• Set your thermostat the same day and night
• Insulate attics, basements, and crawl spaces
• Seal cracks around doors and windows to help prevent drafts
• Disconnect garden hoses and use faucet covers

For plumbing and HVAC service, repairs, and installation, give Done Plumbing a call. They have years of experience with water heaters, leaky pipes, furnaces, and air conditioners.

Have you ever performed your own plumbing installation or maintenance? Do you have any tips for the rest of us? Let us know in the comments.