How to prevent pipes from freezing
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How to prevent pipes from freezing

One problem that is common in the long cold winter months that plumbers hear all the time is my pipes froze last year how can I stop them from freezing. This is a plumbing issue that you want to take of right away. If you leave it, rather than thawing out they may burst. It is common knowledge that when water freezes it expands, if the water in the pipes expand enough then it may cause the pipes to crack. You may not see the cracks right away but you will be able to notice the water leaking from them when the ice thaws.

Pipes are located in the exterior walls of your home where there is no insulation and could be at risk for freezing. Pipes that are buried should be buried below the frost line, ask a plumber exactly where the pipes should be buried and how deep to avoid freezing. Some pipes are on the outside wall because they are hooked up to an appliance that is located against a wall like a sink.

In the case of the sink, open up cabinet doors to allow the warm air of the house to warm up the pipes somehow. A portable heater is also a good idea; place the heater a safe enough distance from materials that may be under the sink such as anything combustible. It may be somewhat plausible to fill in the walls with expanding insulation by drilling a hole into the walls to create a warmer area. The problem is that you may have a hard knowing how much is too much and how little is too little.

You may need a plumber's expertise in this area, if you don't want to spend the money or the process is just too much, you could leave your faucet dripping, open both the hot and the cold water. Leave the water running from the far end of the home, it also protects against freezing.