Winterizing Your Plumbing System

Winter weather can wreak havoc on your plumbing system, with frozen pipes being one of the most common and costly problems homeowners face. When water freezes, it expands, creating pressure that can cause pipes to burst and result in thousands of dollars in damage. Proper winterization is your best defense against these expensive repairs.

Understanding the Risk

Pipes are most vulnerable when temperatures drop below 20°F, especially if they're located in unheated areas like basements, crawl spaces, attics, or garages. Even pipes in heated areas can freeze if they're near exterior walls or if there are air leaks nearby.

Insulate Exposed Pipes

Pipes in unheated areas are most vulnerable to freezing. Use pipe insulation sleeves, heat tape, or even newspaper and plastic wrap as temporary solutions. Focus on pipes in basements, crawl spaces, garages, and any pipes running along exterior walls.

Foam pipe insulation is inexpensive and easy to install. For pipes that are particularly vulnerable, consider electric heat cables that can be wrapped around the pipe and plugged in during extreme cold spells.

Seal Air Leaks

Cold air can reach pipes through surprisingly small openings. Inspect areas where pipes enter your home and seal any cracks or holes with caulk or spray foam insulation. Pay special attention to areas around dryer vents, electrical wiring, and cable lines.

Don't forget about basement windows, crawl space vents, and gaps around pipes under sinks. Even small air leaks can allow enough cold air in to freeze nearby pipes.

Keep Faucets Dripping

During extremely cold weather (below 20°F), let faucets drip slightly, especially those connected to pipes running through unheated areas. Moving water is much less likely to freeze than standing water, and the slight flow can prevent ice formation.

You don't need a heavy flow – just a steady drip is sufficient. Focus on faucets that are farthest from your main water line or those connected to pipes in vulnerable locations.

Maintain Consistent Temperature

Keep your thermostat set to the same temperature day and night during cold spells. While it may increase your heating costs slightly, this is much less expensive than dealing with burst pipes and water damage.

If you're going away during winter, never set your thermostat below 55°F. The money you might save on heating costs isn't worth the risk of returning to frozen or burst pipes.

Know Your Shut-Off Valve

Make sure everyone in your household knows where the main water shut-off valve is located and how to operate it. In case of a pipe burst, shutting off the water quickly can minimize damage significantly.