Tips to avoid frozen pipes and steps to take if they do freeze.

It’s no exaggeration to say that when water supply pipes freeze bad things happen. In addition to burst pipes, water damage to your home’s structure and flooding can occur. It can get costly very quickly. Here are tips for avoiding frozen pipes and steps to take if they do freeze.

Preventing frozen pipes

As with most weather-related home issues, it’s best to take preventive action to avoid problems. For pipes, this means insulating them and sealing air leaks that let cold air in. Also, installing heat tape on pipes helps prevent freezing.

Extra steps to take during severe cold

Frozen pipes can occur any time there are extended periods of below-freezing temperatures. Just a couple hours at 20° F may be all it takes.

When water supply pipes run through outside walls or crawlspaces they are more vulnerable to freezing than pipes that run through interior spaces. When the forecast calls for frigid temps, open cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks to allow the warm air to circulate.

Another way to prevent pipes from freezing is to keep water flowing. Turn on the taps—hot and cold— to allow water to slowly drip. Moving water is less likely to freeze than water that is sitting still in the pipes.

During cold spells (Polar Vortex, we’re looking at you) keep your thermostat higher than usual overnight. It’s far better to have extra energy costs than repair costs for burst pipes.

If you’ll be away from home for several days—or even weeks or months—set the thermostat to no less than 55° F. Arrange to have someone check on your home regularly while you’re gone. A water problem discovered early will be much less trouble than one that goes on for a long time.

Dos and don’ts if pipes freeze

Even with preventive measures, pipes might freeze. You’ll know pipes are frozen if you turn on the tap and no water comes out. If this happens:

• Do turn off the water supply.
• Turn on the faucet tap so that as the ice melts, the pressure and water can be relieved without damaging the faucet.
• Do gently warm the pipes by circulating warm air from a blow dryer or an electric space heater or applying a heating pad to the pipe.
• Don’t try to thaw pipes with torches or open flame. Don’t use kerosene or propane heaters or charcoal stoves. Using these methods could have tragic results.
• If you can’t safely thaw the pipes yourself, call a plumber.

After the pipe is thawed, check for damage. If the pipe appears intact, turn the water supply back on. Check again for leaks. If there is a leak, turn off the water supply and call a plumber to repair it right away.

If there’s damage from frozen pipes, document everything. Take pictures and keep receipts for emergency repairs. If the expenses are greater than the deductible on your homeowners insurance, consider filing a claim.