How to Avoid Frozen Pipes This Winter

The winter months in Davenport, Iowa can mean tranquil beauty, but they can also bring less than desirable weather conditions. Once frigid temperatures hit, they can wreak havoc on your plumbing system, causing pipes to freeze and creating large headaches for homeowners.   

What causes pipes to freeze?

When the weather gets excessively cold, any water that is in any pipes located on the exterior walls or unheated areas of your home can freeze. When the water freezes, it expands and creates immense pressure within your pipes. If the condition is not addressed promptly it could cause your pipes to burst. This can create a host of problems for your entire plumbing system and can leave a huge mess to clean up, as walls, floors and other surfaces that come in contact with water can warp, mildew and mold. The best way to keep your pipes from freezing is to prepare ahead of time. Here are three tips to avoid a costly catastrophe.

• Turn off outside spigots – If your exterior hose bibs remain turned on, any water in the pipes can freeze starting from the outside of your home and working its way inside. Before cold weather hits, turn off the water supply to the exterior of your home and bring in garden hoses, which can also become damaged in freezing temperatures.
• Open doors of exterior cabinets – During extreme cold spells, be sure to open the doors of any exterior wall cabinets that house plumbing pipes. This will allow the warmer air from inside your home to circulate around the pipes. If the temperatures are excessively cold, consider running a ceramic space heater near the cabinet to help raise the air temperature.
• Turn your faucet to a slow drip – If your faucet is located on an exterior wall, turn it on slightly to allow the water to consistently drip. Keep it turned on until the temperatures outside moderate. The steady flow of water through the pipes will make it more difficult to freeze.

If freezing pipes continue to be a problem or your home is in need of repair because of a leaking pipe, it might be time to consider remodeling your home to move plumbing pipes away from exterior walls. Contact the experts at JD Coussens to determine the best option for your budget. We have been providing full-service remodeling since 1990.