Professional Tips for Winterizing Pipes 

Winter is coming, and it’s time to knock out the winterizing checklist intended to protect the home over the winter. Like with spring cleaning checklists, homeowners should make a conscious effort to ensure that the house is ready for winter, and checking the plumbing should be near the top of the list.

Winter temperatures can roll in fast and leave plumbing unprotected. That’s why now is the best time to take action against future problems, especially problems related to frozen pipes. Here are the best tips to keep the pipes from freezing over the winter. 

Complications From Frozen Pipes

Frozen pipes by themselves can be a hassle. When water freezes in a pipe, it blocks the flow and causes a loss of service to the fixture that the pipe serves. If this is a toilet or shower, they won’t be usable until the pipes are thawed and repaired. 

While dealing with a frozen pipe can be a hassle, it is nowhere near as troublesome as the consequences of frozen pipes. When the water in a pipe freezes, it expands and exerts tremendous pressure on the wall of the line. Often this will cause the pipe to rupture and spill water onto the surrounding area. Repairing the burst pipe can be easy for professionals, but fixing the damage from a highly pressurized water line can be a different story. 

When burst pipes occur in the home, several other bad things happen, including:

• Ruined flooring and walls
• Flooded lawns
• Structural damage
• Mold growth

Pipe Insulation to Stop Frozen Pipes

Luckily, preventing frozen pipes is straightforward, and based on the damage that a burst pipe can do, it is evident that taking steps to avoid frozen pipes is the best choice. The easiest way to prevent frozen pipes is to install foam pipe insulation around the line. This material is a fabricated tube of insulation that nestles around the pipe to protect it from cold weather. It comes in long sections and is cheap and easy to install. 

While homeowners can do pipe insulation, professional plumbers are helpful for a couple of reasons. First, they can anticipate problems and cover pipes that may freeze that homeowners may not notice. Secondly, their experience means the job will be done quickly and effectively. 

More Ways to Protect Pipes 

Pipe insulation does the most work when preventing frozen pipes, but it isn’t the only action homeowners can take. Some of the other options that homeowners have to prevent frozen pipes are: 

• Installing heat tape with insulation for added protection
• Replacing pipe insulation every few years
• Leave faucets dripping so water doesn't freeze solid in water lines
• Reroute vulnerable plumbing or pipes that have had a history of freezing
• Leave cabinets open during the winter to allow warm air to circulate pipes that are located within exterior walls 

About Vern Kummers Plumbing, Inc.

Vern Kummers Plumbing, Inc. is a local award-winning plumbing company with over 40 years of experience serving Green Bay, WI, and the surrounding areas. They provide competitive pricing, personalized service, and financing. Call them today for plumbing services or burst pipe repair in Green Bay, WI.

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