Ideas on How to Avoid Frozen Pipes While on Vacation

2/19/2020 (Permalink)

Insulating your water lines is probably the best thing to do before leaving for vacation

How To Prevent Freezing In Your Pipes

When temperatures plummet, pipe freeze becomes the leading cause of water damage in North Aurora, IL. Water lines in unheated parts of the house succumb to the surprisingly forceful pressure of solidifying water, causing thousands of dollars worth of water damage. That’s why you need to know how to prevent freezing in your pipes

Pipes with the highest risk of freezing include:

• Any line passing through the attic
  
• Pipes in the basement
  
• Supply lines in the garage
  
  

Insulate Your Pipes

Insulating your water lines is probably the best thing to do before leaving for vacation. It will mitigate the risk of frozen pipes, saving you the trouble of continually heating the pipes.
There are several options for plumbing insulation in the market today; some are dirt cheap, while others are not. Inexpensive options such as rubber and fiberglass, are suitable for houses with decent insulation. There’s also an electric heating tape that can work for any situation.

Turn on the Heat

Leaving the heat on might not be the most economical thing to do, but maintaining 55F or more can prevent freezing in plumbing fixtures. Ask a friend to check the house regularly to make sure it is warm enough. It’s one way of avoiding a nasty pipe burst incident.

Shut off the Water Supply

Cutting off the water supply at the main valve has its pros and cons. First, it will prevent any water from getting into the system, which eliminates the risk of frozen pipes. However, fire sprinklers will not work if they are needed. That’s why some people prefer leaving their faucets dripping to reduce pressure and eliminate the risk of freezing. With these tips, you will never have to worry about frozen pipes ever again. You can implement any of them and get the desired outcome, but they work better when used together. For example, insulate the pipes as the first thing then have a friend check-in every other day for the best results.