Have you ever dealt with a major plumbing disaster in the middle of winter? If you have, you know how devastating, costly and time-consuming it can be and if you haven’t, well consider yourself lucky. That is, unless you take a few minutes here and there during the fall season to make sure your plumbing is ready for colder temperatures that come along with winter.
Want to find out what you can do now to get your pipes, faucets and fixtures prepared? See below for a few key tips:
Insulate Pipes: take a look around your home? Do you have any pipes that are exposed to exterior walls or are lacking insulation? If so, it’s time to insulate. Pipes can freeze when exterior temperatures dip below 20ºF so be sure to wrap pipes in unheated areas with fiberglass or polyurethane insulation tubes.
Keep Cabinet Doors Open: on days when you’re expecting temperatures to drop down below freezing, you may want to consider opening up cabinets that contain pipes. This will allow heat to enter the area and keep pipes from freezing.
Plug Up Cracks and Gaps: take a quick lap around the outside of your home. Keep an eye out for any cracks or holes along walls or in the foundation. If you spot any, fill them with spray foam insulation or caulk to prevent cold air from coming in contact with water pipes.
In case of a plumbing emergency this fall or winter, call on the experts at Uptown. We’ve been serving the entire Twin Cities – St. Paul area for over 100 years so you know you can put your trust in us!
