Less than a week ago we were faced with wind chills approaching -50. Such extreme temperatures cause concerns for all of us. Mine were:
- Will my car start?
- Is my dog going to be safe?
- Will I be safe?
But also:
- Will my plumbing pipes freeze?
Their aren’t many things worse than having your plumbing pipes freeze and burst during the winter. On the heals of our frigid previous week I would like to provide you with 9 tips that will eliminate the need for that 2 a.m. phone call to Steve’s Plumbing…
Eliminate cold drafts near water pipes:
- tightly close doors and windows to the outside
- install storm windows on basement windows
- fill cracks in walls and around windows
- eliminate drafts from crawl spaces
Provide warmth to the water pipes:
- open the door to the room where the pipes are located to allow warmth to circulate
- place a lit light bulb near water pipes. But never use open flames
- wrap pipes in insulation or heat tape
- if your kitchen sink or bathroom sink are located against an outside wall, insulate the wall and open the cabinet door below sink to allow warm air to reach pipes
Make frequent use of your water supply:
- when outdoor temperatures remain below zero, it is less expensive to run your faucet regularly than to repair a frozen or bust pipe
Other resources with additional cold weather pointers:
- Handy Household Hints: How to Prevent your Pipes from Freezing
- Home Renovation Guide: Preventing Winter Plumbing Problems
- WISN.com: Deep Freeze Safety Guide: Stay Safe, Warm on Frigid Days
To answer my questions from above:
- No my car didn’t start on Thursday. Only after it warmed up Friday afternoon we were finally able to get it jump started .
- Yes, my dog handled the cold. By Friday afternoon he was lying on straw he pulled out of his doghouse enjoying the sun, even though the temperature outside was barely above zero.
- Yes, I made it through. Thursday I did have to haul wood into the garage from my woodpile. I did wish I had planned that better…
PHONE: (608) 542-0178
My name is Adam Holberg and I’m a Realtor with First Weber of Wisconsin Rapids. This website is designed to inform and help bring conversation to a topic I love, real estate.