Keep Your Home's Pipes Warm This Winter

Smart ways to prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting this winter.

As temperatures drop below freezing, homeowners need to worry about their risk for frozen pipes.  While this may not sound like a big deal, frozen pipes often lead to major leaks, extensive damage, and costly repairs.  This is why it's so important to protect your home's pipes from freezing temperatures.  Here are some of the smart strategies that you should employ.

• Drain Outdoor Pipes

Your outdoor pipes and supply lines, such as hose bibs, sprinkler lines, and pool lines, are most at risk for freezing over.  The best way to prevent this from happening is by completely draining the hoses that you normally keep outdoors, and storing them away until the weather gets warmer.  You should also make sure to open your outdoor hose bibs and valves to allow any remaining water to drain out as well.

• Use Old Newspaper as Insulation

While outdoor water lines are most at risk for freezing and bursting, the plumbing located in your home's unheated areas also face a high risk of freezing.  This includes the pipes in your crawl spaces, basement, and garage.  While you can buy snap-on fiberglass or foam sleeves to insulate your pipes, you can also use old newspapers for a cheaper, DIY alternative.  Surrounding your pipes with a layer of newspaper (about ¼-inch thick) is enough to protect your pipes from cold temperatures.

• Wrap Pipes with Heat Tape

If you do not want to deal with newspaper or other bulky types of insulation, then you can use UL-listed heat tape to wrap around or alongside your pipes to keep them from freezing.  Heat tape is available at your local hardware store and is very easy to apply on your own.  Simply follow the manufacturer's instructions for the best protection.

These are some of the tips that you should try to protect your home's pipes this winter.  Looking for another way to take care of your home?  If so, then secure homeowners insurance from the experts at Scavone Insurance Agency Center LLC in White Plains, New York.  Contact us for all your coverage needs today.