Cold Weather Warnings: Keeping Your Pipes Warm During Frigid Temperatures

Cold temperatures are here to stay for the next couple months. With temperatures in the teens and even lower, the likelihood of frozen pipes increases greatly.

Here are some tips for keeping your home—and your pipes—warm this winter.

•Make sure everyone in your house knows where to find the main water shut off valve, and that the path to get to it is clear in case of a plumbing emergency

•Keep your thermostat set to the same temperature during the day and night. It’s ok to lower the temperatures at night when the weather is milder, but when the temperatures outside dip to frigid, it’s not worth the heat bill savings when the cost to repair frozen pipe damage is so much higher.

••If you have pipes that run along non-insulated walls, open cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate around the plumbing. Make sure to put any harmful cleaners and household chemicals in the cabinets out of reach of children.

•Let cold water drip from faucets served by exposed or non-insulated pipes. Running water, even a trickle will help prevent the pipes from freezing.
•If you will be going away, leave the heat on in your house, no lower than 55 degrees.
•Take advantage of natural sunlight to help heat your house. Keep curtains open during the day to let the sun warm your house, and close them at night for insulation.