There are many options available to help keep water pipes from freezing during bouts of cold winter weather.

One of the most important things that can be done is to install insulation in areas where cold air can seep in around the pipes. Securely installing rigid foam insulation around all floor joists, foundation walls and vents will block out any cold air drafts that can lead to frozen pipes. Make sure no gaps are left around the insulation-even the smallest hole can allow in freezing weather.

Should pipes freeze inside an exterior wall, cut an access hole into the wall which will allow for installation of fiberglass insulation around the pipes. An access door can then be installed over the opening to allow for future access to the water pipes if needed.

Water pipes can also be wrapped in heat tape or thermostatically controlled heat cables to prevent the water from freezing. Make sure to read all directions included on the heat cables to assure that they are installed properly.

Another way to help prevent pipes freezing is to open cabinet doors to allow heat access to un-insulated pipes under sinks/appliances from the interior of the room. This is a good option if you have not yet had a chance to install any insulation around these pipes.

Even considering all the other options already listed, one of the best things that can be done to prevent pipes from freezing is to leave the cold water tap slightly on to keep water flowing through the pipes.

Tags: freezing, Home, pipes, Tap, tips, WATER, Weather, winter

This entry was posted on Monday, January 11th, 2010 at 4:27 pm and is filed under DIY, Home, Plumbing, WATER. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.