​Preventing Frozen Pipes: Tips for Winter Home Protection

In the event of extremely cold weather, internal water lines can freeze and/or burst. While we don’t maintain your internal plumbing, we can provide guidance on preparing your home and offer tips to help you prevent costly repairs.

• Wrap exposed pipes with insulating material. You can purchase these materials from any hardware store.
• If your home has a crawl space, cover the outside vents to prevent winter winds from freezing the pipes.
• Disconnect and drain your outdoor garden hoses.
• If your house has a slab foundation, close the garage door. Some water pipes are located under concrete floors in the garage.
• When temperatures are extremely low, allow a slow drip from faucets served by exposed pipes to keep water moving, reducing the risk of freezing.
• Open cabinet doors to allow heat to surround the pipes.

Regardless of the weather conditions, it's essential to find the water shutoff valve, which regulates the water supply to your home. Typically, you can find it near the water heater, in the basement, or inside a utility closet. Shutting off the water in the event of a pipe burst can help reduce potential costly damage.
These helpful tips can significantly reduce the risk of frozen pipes and expensive repairs this holiday season!