How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

Published Date: March 9th, 2023 | Category: Plumbing Tips

In the wintertime, one of the most common plumbing problems that can occur is frozen pipes. When pipes freeze and burst, you will need to call a plumber. Minneapolis winters get quite frigid, so this is a special concern for this area. So how can you prevent this from happening and from needing to call in a plumber for help?

Prepare Your Pipes

Before the cold weather hits, make sure your pipes are ready Make sure the outside of your pipes are sealed and exposed to plenty of warm air. You should also know where your water shut-off valve is located just in case a pipe burst and you need to shut off the water before the plumber arrives to fix the problem. Water lines are usually about eight feet underground, and last year the frost got down to 15 feet underground in some places.

Turn Up the Heat

Try to keep your home as warm as possible and crank up the heat a bit. If you have an uninsulated crawl space in your home, this is a good way to ensure it stays warm enough that the pipes will not freeze and burst and require a call to us to get a plumber sent to your home.

Check Your Insulation

It’s always a good idea to make sure your home is properly insulated because it can help you save money on heating and cooling bills. But it’s even more important because this can also help keep your pipes from freezing. If you can’t do it yourself, call in a professional insulation company.

Turn off the Water

If you aren’t going to be in your home for awhile, turn off the water. That way, if the pipe freezes and breaks, there won’t be a lot of water leaking out. This is a great idea if you will be on vacation for more than a few days.

Open Your Cabinet Doors

If you open your kitchen cabinet doors during the winter time, this helps keep the air in the cabinets warm. And this means the pipes that run along the exterior wall will stay warm too. This could help keep your pipes from freezing, and that means there will be no need to call in a plumber for help.

Taking the time to ensure your pipes are properly warmed up could save you time, money and hassle in the long run.

When you need a plumber in Minneapolis, call All Ways Drains at 612-922-9422, or you can contact us and get a Free Estimate.