Introduction

When winter cold snaps hit, water trapped inside uninsulated pipes can freeze and expand. This intense pressure can cause pipes to crack or burst entirely, leading to catastrophic structural water damage. Taking a few proactive steps to insulate your system before temperatures drop is the best defense for your home.

1. Insulate Exposed Pipe Lines

Pipes located in unheated zones such as basements, crawl spaces, attics, and exterior walls are at the highest risk of freezing.

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• Fit exposed pipes with high density foam insulation sleeves or thermal heat tape.

• Pay special attention to joints, bends, and areas where pipes pass near outer walls.

2. Disconnect Outdoor Garden Hoses

Leaving hoses connected to outdoor spigots traps water inside the fixture and adjacent indoor pipe segment. When that trapped water freezes, it bursts the interior line.

• Disconnect, drain, and store all outdoor hoses before cold weather arrives.

• Shut off the indoor isolation valve leading to exterior faucets, then open the outdoor tap to drain remaining standing water.

3. Maintain Interior Heat & Dripping Faucets

• Keep your thermostat set to at least 55°F (13°C), even when traveling.

• Open sink cabinet doors in kitchens and bathrooms to allow warm ambient room air to circulate around hidden plumbing.

• During extreme freezing weather, let vulnerable faucets drip slightly. Moving water relieves internal line pressure, preventing bursts even if slight ice forms.

When to Call a Professional

If you turn on a faucet during a freeze and only get a trickle, your pipes may already be frozen. Attempting to thaw pipes using open flames or improper tools can rupture the metal or cause a fire.

Reach out to FreeFlow for safe pipe thawing, thermal insulation upgrades, and emergency winter response.