Preventing Frozen Pipes During The Polar Vortex

Preventing frozen pipes is important.We just wanted to take a minute and share a few things you can do to prevent waterlines from freezing in the next few very cold days. An ounce of prevention during the polar vortex is the best way to stop your pipes from freezing and bursting.

Frozen pipes can cost you big. And though the Plumbing Pro loves to replace pipes, we love our customers a lot more. Here are some tips to keep your home free of frozen pipes and costly pipe bursts.

Prevention Tips To Keep Your Pipes From Freezing

1. Open the doors under your kitchen and bathroom sinks, especially if they are located on outer walls (which most kitchen sinks are.) Leave them open so warm air from your house can reach your pipes and keep them from freezing and bursting.

2. Free your furnace exhaust and intake vents on the outside of your home clear of all snow and ice. This will help keep your furnace humming along during the polar vortex.

3. If you have a crawl space with waterlines make sure to insulate them during the warm months of the year. Otherwise, during extremely cold spells, you will need to blow warm air from the basement into the space with a fan. Frozen pipes are more likely when your home has a crawl space.

4. Turn your fan setting from “Auto” to “On” to circulate the warm air your furnace is generating 100% of the time. It will also help reduce cold spots in your home.

5. Place an insulating dome or other covering on outdoor faucets and spigots to reduce the likelihood of water pipes freezing, expanding and causing a costly leak.

6. Let the cold-water drip from a faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe—even at a trickle—helps prevent pipes from freezing during cold spells.

Finally, never try to thaw frozen pipes with a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame device, as this is quite dangerous. Always call a professional – The Plumbing Pro. 

Call Now (816) 763-8200 or 913-782-9669.