Caring for your Home in the Winter months

Freeze Protection

Provided the home is heated at a normal level, pipes should not freeze.  Heat should be set at 65 degrees if you are away during winter months.  Garage doors should be kept closed to protect plumbing lines that may run through this area.  Broken pipes are not warrantable.

If a light freeze is predicted (low 30’s or high 20’s) you should do the following:

Disconnect garden hoses.

Open cabinets to allow warm air to circulate around pipes.

Garage doors should be kept closed to protect plumbing lines that may run through this area.

Let the faucets drip slowly.

Cover all exterior hose bibs with insulation or insulating material.

If a hard freeze is predicted (mid 20’s or below) you should take the above precautions and drain all the exterior water lines, including hose bibs.  Leave the water turned off until temperatures rise above freezing.

An ordinary hair dryer can be used to thaw pipes that are frozen.  Never use an open flame.  Should you have a broken pipe as a result of a freeze, please contact your insurance carrier as this is non-warrantable.

If your pipes should freeze, turn your water off.  When pipes freeze, they usually burst.  When they thaw, if the water is on, they will cause an enormous amount of damage to your home

Provided the home is heated at a normal level, pipes should not freeze at temperatures above 32 degrees Fahrenheit.  Heat should be set at 65 degrees if you are away during the winter months.

When You Are Not at Home

If you will be away for an extended period of time it is best to drain your water supply lines.  Shutting off the main supply line and opening the faucets to relieve the pressure in the lines.

Wrap/cover all exterior pipes, hose bibs and faucets with some type of insulation.