How to Protect Your Home From Burst Pipes
Winter is coming this weekend in Denver! While your home’s furnace and heating system can typically handle those cold temperatures and keep your home safe and warm even when temperatures are below zero, but if temperatures get too cold, even the best heaters may not be able to keep up with the cold. This puts your home’s plumbing—and your water heater—at risk and, if your pipes freeze, they can burst. Here’s what you can do to better protect your pipes and your water heater from those cold days.
Drip Your Faucets
When you know the overnight temperatures are going to be cold, keep one faucet’s cold tap at a constant drip overnight. Make sure you choose the faucet that’s farthest away from the point that water enters your home. This ensures that the water runs through the entire system, not just the shortest distance.
The dripping keeps water moving and relieves any pressure that can build up in your pipes if they start to freeze. By relieving that pressure, you’ll reduce the risk of the pipes bursting if they do freeze.
Insulate Your Water Heater
Standard water heater tanks will take a long time to freeze, but they can and will if the cold weather is severe enough and temperatures in your home drop low enough. The easiest way to protect your water heater is to insulate the tank and any connecting pipes. Water heater blankets and pipe insulation typically do the trick and are easy to install if you’re even the slightest bit handy. However, you can always let your trusted water heater repair technician install the insulation for you.
Open Cabinet Doors
In most homes, the heat that keeps your space comfortable doesn’t reach beneath sinks and into water heater closets. This puts those pipes at risk of freezing if temperatures drop indoors. Instead of leaving cabinets and water heater closets closed off from the heat, leave them open. If you have small kids or curious pets, remove any harsh cleaners or chemicals that you store under the sink and store them in a secure location. Leave the cabinets and closets open until the extreme cold passes.
Drain and Disconnect Outdoor Hoses
Leaving garden hoses attached to outdoor spigots is fine during the warmer months, but it’s damaging to your home in the winter. The water trapped inside the hose and spigot can freeze and cause burst pipes in your home if you’re not careful. Make sure your hoses are disconnected from outdoor spigots anytime you’re not using them. This will protect your plumbing and reduce the risk of burst pipes in your walls.
Keep Your Plumbing Working Well Year-Round
Keeping your home’s plumbing in good condition is the best way to ensure that your water heater works dependably year after year. If you’re worried about the fittings on your water heater after a cold snap, contact the team at Denver Water Heaters and schedule an inspection as soon as possible.
Go Back Drip Your Faucets
When you know the overnight temperatures are going to be cold, keep one faucet’s cold tap at a constant drip overnight. Make sure you choose the faucet that’s farthest away from the point that water enters your home. This ensures that the water runs through the entire system, not just the shortest distance.
The dripping keeps water moving and relieves any pressure that can build up in your pipes if they start to freeze. By relieving that pressure, you’ll reduce the risk of the pipes bursting if they do freeze.
Insulate Your Water Heater
Standard water heater tanks will take a long time to freeze, but they can and will if the cold weather is severe enough and temperatures in your home drop low enough. The easiest way to protect your water heater is to insulate the tank and any connecting pipes. Water heater blankets and pipe insulation typically do the trick and are easy to install if you’re even the slightest bit handy. However, you can always let your trusted water heater repair technician install the insulation for you.
Open Cabinet Doors
In most homes, the heat that keeps your space comfortable doesn’t reach beneath sinks and into water heater closets. This puts those pipes at risk of freezing if temperatures drop indoors. Instead of leaving cabinets and water heater closets closed off from the heat, leave them open. If you have small kids or curious pets, remove any harsh cleaners or chemicals that you store under the sink and store them in a secure location. Leave the cabinets and closets open until the extreme cold passes.
Drain and Disconnect Outdoor Hoses
Leaving garden hoses attached to outdoor spigots is fine during the warmer months, but it’s damaging to your home in the winter. The water trapped inside the hose and spigot can freeze and cause burst pipes in your home if you’re not careful. Make sure your hoses are disconnected from outdoor spigots anytime you’re not using them. This will protect your plumbing and reduce the risk of burst pipes in your walls.
Keep Your Plumbing Working Well Year-Round
Keeping your home’s plumbing in good condition is the best way to ensure that your water heater works dependably year after year. If you’re worried about the fittings on your water heater after a cold snap, contact the team at Denver Water Heaters and schedule an inspection as soon as possible.