When temperatures plunge below 20 degrees and remain there for several hours or more, your outdoor and indoor plumbing is at risk of freezing. As the ice thaws, leaks appear, and you could face bills for expensive repairs and replacements. The tips below can help you head off frozen pipes and the damage that may occur.

4 Ways to Protect Plumbing From Winter Freezes

1. Close Garage Doors 

If you have water pipes running through the garage, keeping your doors closed helps retain heat inside. Consider placing a small space heater near the indoor pipe area and wrap accessible pipes with insulated sleeves. Leave outside faucets dripping to keep water flowing.

2. Open Cabinet Doors

Pipes under kitchen and bathroom sinks can freeze when cold weather strikes. Opening the cabinet doors helps heat from your home circulate into the openings and keeps pipes warm as you let the faucets drip water. Remove all chemical compounds from the open cabinets so children and pets don’t have access to them.

3. Keep Temperature Consistent

On cold nights, keep the house temperature the same as during the day instead of lowering it slightly like usual. Your heating bill might be slightly higher, but it’s a small price to pay compared to the expense and inconvenience of an emergency plumbing call and damage from a broken water pipe.

4. Insulate Drafty Areas

Adding insulation in attics, basements, and crawl spaces helps retain heat around water supply lines. Insulating pipes themselves can be cost-effective, especially when done at the same time as other home repair or renovation projects.

If frozen plumbing interferes with your plans, contact the professionals at Osterwisch Company in Cincinnati, OH. This family-owned business provides a wide range of plumbing services, maintaining its tradition of excellence started in 1946. These fully licensed heating and cooling, electrical, and plumbing experts provide accurate diagnoses and effective repairs quickly to restore your pipes and equipment to top working condition. Visit their website to learn more about their offerings. Call (513) 791-3282 to schedule an appointment.