Homeowners in the Twin Falls and Jerome, ID areas, are no strangers to the freezing temperatures that occur during the winter months. Unfortunately, this cold can cause several issues to occur with your home, including frozen pipes. Let’s look at a winter checklist for homeowners that can help prevent the major issue of frozen pipes.
Maintaining Your Interior Temperature
The temperature inside your home should be somewhere around 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter months. This is an ideal temperature regarding comfort, but it’s also the right temperature for preventing plumbing disasters. Homeowners often turn their thermostat down if they’re going to be leaving the home for an extended period. While this has the potential to save you money on your energy bill, it can lead to plumbing problems. The residual water that is in your pipes can freeze, causing damage and even resulting in your pipe bursting. This can quickly lead to structural damage and even mold growth.
Turning your thermostat down a few degrees while you’re away is ok, but don’t let your interior temperature get anywhere below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Adding Insulation to Your Pipes
Insulation can be installed around the pipes in your home to help retain heat. This can decrease the likelihood of your pipes freezing if your home becomes cold in the winter. This is a rather affordable investment that can also provide an increase in home comfort. The water that you have coming out of your fixtures will be warmer. This can also help you save money on your energy bills, as you won’t have to run your water heater as frequently to keep up with hot water demands.
Insulating your pipes often comes with the potential for several incentives and rebates that can offset the cost. Also, the type of insulation you choose will impact the cost. Polyurethane foam is the most affordable option and often comes in long tubes that can be cut and fitted over the pipes.
You can also insulate your hot water heater. This will keep water warmer as it passes through your plumbing system, reducing the risk of freezing. This is another great way to reduce energy costs in the long run.
Opening Up Cabinet Doors
The doors that are on your vanities and cabinets should remain open if you have pipes in those areas that are at risk of freezing. This promotes ample airflow, allowing your pipes to stay a bit warmer. If you are very concerned about your pipes freezing and will be home to monitor their use, you can point a space heater into the areas where these pipes are located to bring the temperature up.
Letting Your Faucets Trickle Water
This isn’t a long-term fix, but it’s a great way to prevent freezing pipes for the time being. Allow just the littlest bit of water to leak out of your faucets and fixtures. This slow flow of water prevents freezing. It can raise your utility bills, so only use this method when it’s absolutely necessary.
Sealing Drafts Around Your Home
Look around your home for any signs of gaps or cracks that may be decreasing the overall efficiency of your home. If cold air is allowed to come inside, this decreases your interior temperature. This can lead to pipes freezing, especially in very drafty areas. You can seal these gaps using insulation, caulk, or expanding spray foam. Large, compromised areas should be addressed by a professional. You’ll notice that your home feels more comfortable after you complete this process, and your utility bills may be lower moving forward.
Preparing for Power Outages
Unfortunately, the power in your home can go out at any time, even in the winter months. When this happens, you may start to experience your pipes starting to freeze. Have items on hand that can help you address this issue. This is an instance where insulation works very well. Also, keep your vanities and cupboards open until the power goes back on.
Investing in a backup generator provides you with power that you can use to run a space heater. You can power an electric blanket, which can be wrapped around a pipe that appears to be freezing.
Keeping Up With Routine Inspections and Maintenance
It’s ideal that you have your plumbing system inspected once per year. This allows our team to spot any issues that may put you at risk of your pipes freezing. We can also spot damage that may have occurred because of pipes freezing and thawing without you noticing. We’ll help you make changes that will prevent future problems.
Routine maintenance includes things like cleaning your drains of any built-up debris. When you add moisture and cold temperatures to these partial clogs, it can put you at a greater risk of experiencing a plumbing emergency.
Spotting a Freezing Pipe
If you’re trying to evaluate your plumbing system for any signs of pipes freezing, there are some specific things to look for.
Ice on Your Pipe’s Surfaces
Your pipes should appear dry and free of any ice accumulation. If you see ice accumulating on the exterior of your pipes, it’s likely accumulating on the inside as well.
Condensation
You may not see ice forming on the exterior of your pipes, but condensation may be occurring. Your pipes shouldn’t ever get wet. Take the appropriate steps to warm and dry the air. You should also look for any condensation that is forming on the surface underneath your plumbing.
Bulges or Cracks
Inspect your pipes for any signs of bulging or cracking. When water freezes, it expands. This expansion is what leads to pipes becoming compromised and cracking.
Odd Noises
Your pipes shouldn’t be making abnormal sounds like gurgling or clanking. If they are, this may be caused by ice forming in the pipes and preventing the normal flow of water from moving through.
Drains Backing Up
If you notice that you’re experiencing a backup of fluid coming from your drains, there may be ice that is impeding the flow of water. This can be a health danger, so make sure that you take appropriate steps to address the problem.
Decreased Water Pressure
In addition to decreased water flowing down your drains because of ice in your pipes, you may notice that there is less water coming out of your faucets. This may be caused by the obstruction of ice somewhere in your plumbing system. Leaving the water flowing can help melt the ice, but this may not be enough if temperatures are cold enough.
If you need assistance with your plumbing system this winter, reach out to our team here at Magic Electric, Plumbing, Heating + Air. In addition to plumbing repairs and maintenance, we also offer the installation, repair, and maintenance of heating and cooling equipment. Our electrical services include car charging, electrical panels, generators, lighting, safety inspections, outlets, and much more.
Contact Magic Electric, Plumbing, Heating + Air for frozen pipe assistance in Twin Falls or Jerome today.
