Although winter is one of our favourite seasons, West Nova Fuels & Superline Fuels knows that might not be the case for many others. Cold temperatures, snow shovelling, and having to wear too many layers are just a few of the complaints we hear between December and March (or longer if you’re unlucky), and there’s one more thing to add to the list! Frozen pipes. But don’t fret too much, because we’re going to tell you how you can avoid this winter blunder.
When temperatures plummet, frozen pipes can become an unfortunate reality if you don’t take steps to prevent them. Frozen pipes can burst and cause flooding which can be expensive to fix, often costing hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on the extent of the damage. But here are some simple steps you can take to avoid the problem..
- Turn the heat up! The most common reason pipes freeze is because homeowners are trying to save money on heating costs by turning the heat off or down too low. 15℃ is a reasonable temperature to set your heating at to save money while still being comfortable and keeping your pipes warm enough. Check out our blog on The Ideal Temperature for more info!
- Insulate your pipes! Insulation will help prevent freezing and possibly lower your heating bill by keeping the heat where you need it most.
- Keep the doors open to rooms, particularly ones that have pipes next to outside walls. That will allow heat in the room and keep the pipes warm. You may even consider keeping cabinet doors open too.
- If you have a cottage or summer home that you don’t visit in the winter, you’ll want to take extra steps like draining the pipes and hot water tank, leaving the taps open, and making sure drains are clear before closing up the house.
These few steps could save you the huge headache of dealing with frozen pipes and the damage that comes with them!