Prepare for winter storms

11/19/2018 (Permalink)

Here in the south east we weather storms like hurricanes and summer storms fairly well. But what have you done to prepare for winters wrath? The northwest part of the state saw its first glazing of ice recently and here in Winston Salem area we are waking to below freezing temperatures but warm quickly by noon.

In older homes an overnight freeze could be enough to rupture a pipe. Consider insulating your pipes, especially if on an outside wall. Now is the time to ensure that crawl space pipes are well insulated. If there are drafts blowing in on pipes be sure to caulk and seal up these drafty areas before it gets much colder. If your home is on a concrete slab, some of your pipes may be in your attic and ceiling area. These also should be insulated from the cold.  When they burst they can actually cause a lot of damage to ceiling and floors.

Heat tape is also an option and may already be installed if you live in a premanufactured home. Be sure to inspect it regularly for signs of fraying and wear.  If you install heat tape your self be sure to follow all the manufactures instructions. Never double wrap heat tape over itself or use on top of thermal insulation as this could be a fire hazard.

If the power goes out are your pipes prone to freezing solid?  If they are then be sure to turn on both the hot and cold water on dripping.  Keep outside doors and garage doors closed but inside doors should be open to allow heat to circulate throughout your home. Be sure to keep your thermostat at 55 degrees or higher both day and night. This is especially true if the home is vacant waiting to be rented or sold. If you open cabinet doors do let heat under a sink, be sure to put items like cleaners and choking hazards for pets and children away to avoid a problem of another kind.

If after you have taken these precautions and water doesn’t come out and you suspect a frozen pipe. Shut the supply off and call a plumber.  If water comes out of another area of your home you may be able to narrow down the pipe that is frozen this will be helpful to know for the plumber as we all know time is money especially by the hour.

Should you have a need for our services due to a burst pipe call us directly at 336-946-1131