We are in the middle of the winter season, where the weather can be unpredictable and in certain areas of Sonoma County it can get rather chilly. Many residential floods in the winter are caused by frozen pipes that burst; this happens because water expands as it freezes, putting pressure on pipes, and no matter how strong your pipes are, they will burst if care isn’t taken during the winter months.

According the The Red Cross, pipes that freeze most frequently are:

  • Pipes that are exposed to severe cold, like outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, and water sprinkler lines.
  • Water supply pipes in unheated interior areas like basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets.
  • Pipes that run against exterior walls that have little or no insulation.

Even if none of these factors pertain to you and your home, you are not necessarily immune to frozen pipes.

The following are precautions you can take in order to prevent a disaster:

Start with simply insulating and keeping your home warm, especially areas in which your pipes reside. If you have a crawlspace, attic, or basement, ensure that these areas of your home are properly insulated, which will not only help prevent frozen pipes but also help reduce your energy bill.

Never turn your heat off. Regardless if you are home or not, keep the temperature at least 55 degrees. And Consumer Reports does not recommend turning the heat down overnight to save a few bucks.

Everyone has heard of this one: Keep your faucet dripping, especially overnight and especially if the source from the pipe is exposed to the elements.

If you have a specific room that is prone to frozen pipes or you are concerned, keep a space heater on in that area while you are home.

Doors make a difference. Opening cabinet doors to let warm air circulate around your kitchen and bathroom pipes and keeping doors closed to drafty areas, such as the garage, can make a world of difference.

Drain excess water. Home Depot recommends disconnecting hoses and draining water from those pipes that are accessed outdoors.

In the next article, we will discuss what to do when you have located a frozen pipe and how to unfreeze it yourself without calling in the professionals.

Unfortunately, we cannot always prevent every frozen or leaky pipe; if you happen to be in the middle of a winter-weather home disaster, don’t worry—Restoration Certified Specialists, Inc. will take care of you! They have been proudly serving the Santa Rosa and North Bay areas since 1975.