Prevent Pipes Bursting in Extreme Cold

We have it better than we will ever know in Washington State and Oregon. Sure we have to deal with a little rain but overall the temperature never gets bellow 40 degrees. Its usually always moderate compared with the rest of the nation.

But when the temperature drops significantly we, in this area area, are never prepared for it and a lot of damage is caused because of it. Many residents were blindsided this past December when we had this extreme uncharacteristic cold snap. Frozen pipes and meters are really no fun to deal with and expensive to fix. Here are some tips to prevent water damage for all homeowners in the Portland area and any other residents of the pacific northwest.

1) Try to make certain your pipes are insulated and warm. Do not shut off the heat in the middle of day like many people normally do. You can lower the thermostat but do not shut it off. You want to keep your basement and walls toasty because that's where all the pipes are. If you know that you have bad insulation where you live then you need to turn up the temperature well above what you normally have it. Trying to save a little on heat can end up costing your hundreds or thousands of dollars calling a plumbing company.

2) Make certain you turn off ALL the faucets that are on the outside of your home. Take off the water hose. There were a lot of people that did not do this and the water in the pipes outside froze and burst. If you are able it is a good idea to drain all the pipes outside.

3) Heat can creep out of small cracks in the wall, holes, doors, and windows. On a cold and windy day those small opening let a lot of heat out and let really cold air in. Try to patch them up as much as you can.

4) Take insulating material, which you can get at your local plumbing supply store, and put them on your faucets, pipes, and meters.

When a cold snap suddenly hits in the area the people the most prepared suffer the least amount of damage. Know the weaknesses of the plumbing in your home and act accordingly. Many homes in the greater Portland metropolitan area are not made to handle weather under 32 degrees for long periods of time.