Preventing Frozen Pipes this Winter

Keep Pipes from Freezing and Bursting with these Guidelines

Whether the storm is a month out or 12 hours away, read along for some helpful guidelines on how you can prevent frozen pipes in your home.

How to Protect Pipes from Freezing

Well in advance of a freezing storm, you can prepare your house or property for extreme winter weather. See how you can prepare in advance of any winter weather.

• • Evaluate the insulation in the attic, especially if any water lines run through the ceiling. Adding adequate insulation can help maintain temperatures when you need it the most. Tighten up crawl spaces and block drafts.
  • Take extra care to check in your garage for hot and cold water supply lines that may be in areas without insulation, and without climate control. Keep in mind that if the power goes out during a Texas freeze, areas of the home with the least insulation and most exposure to the elements will be the most vulnerable to freezing. Garages are not often finished with insulation that aids in climate control. Take care to protect exposed water pipes in this area.
  • Where pipes come out of the ground, such as at the meter or on hose bibs, are exposed to wintery freezes. Hose bib covers are easy to use, and compatible with most standard hose bibs. In the winter covers protect the fixture from freezing temps and rain, and in the warmer months they provide a shelter from sun exposure when used properly.

How to Prevent Freezing During the Storm

• • Open your kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Once freezing temperatures are approaching, take care to open kitchen and bathroom.
  • Drip your faucets. It’s simple - still water is much more likely to freeze than moving water. Turning your faucets on keeps the water moving and prevents the water from forming ice crystals. Another reason to drip your faucet is to reduce any pressure on the system.
    • You don’t necessarily have to drip all of your faucets. Focus on dripping faucets that are exposed to exterior walls.
    • Be sure to drip both cold and hot water. Because hot and cold water actually enter the fixture from separate hot and cold water lines, you want to be sure water is flowing through each line. If it’s, for instance, a kitchen faucet that doesn’t have separate handles, drip lukewarm water.
    • How fast should I drip my faucets? How fast to drip your faucets does matter. Remember that still water is much more likely to freeze. So you don’t need a stream of water, but you do need to prevent the ice crystals from getting a chance to form. Think of a “walking tempo” when setting your drip.
  • DON’T shut your water off and leave it. Unless you run air through the system to completely clear it, there is still water in the line and it is more likely to freeze.