If you have ever experienced a pipe bursting during winter, then you know the damage that can be done in a very short amount of time. A burst pipe can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to your home, and it’s not always easy to prevent them. However, there are some simple steps that homeowners can take throughout Michigan winters to help ensure their pipes don’t freeze up and burst:

Preventing Your Pipes from Freezing

The best way to prevent your pipes from freezing is to keep the temperature in your home above freezing. If you are going out of town for several days, turn off and drain the water heater so it does not continue to heat up the surrounding area. Another option is to leave a trickle of water flowing through the pipes; this will help keep them from freezing and bursting. If you have cabinet doors under sinks open, this will allow warm air into those spaces, which can help reduce chances of freezing as well.

If You Are Away:

Whenever you are away for more than a few days, the best thing you can do for your home is open cabinet doors and keep the temperature above freezing. This will allow heat to circulate more easily through the pipes, preventing them from freezing.

If you live alone or have an older relative who lives alone, it is especially important they pay attention to their plumbing system when temperatures drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If necessary, have someone check on them daily during this time period so that they don’t fall victim to frozen pipes.

If Your Pipes Freeze:

If your pipes freeze, you should call a plumber right away. The first thing they will do is turn off the water to your home and drain out the remaining liquid in the pipes. If you can’t do this yourself, they will also shut off power at your meter box to prevent further damage and restore it when repairs are complete. Once repairs have been made, here are some steps you can take to prevent freezing again:

• Open cabinet doors or windows to allow warm air into rooms with cold pipes – we find that bathrooms and other similar small spaces are especially vulnerable
• Run tap water in relevant rooms until they’re hot enough for you to touch comfortably – you will know if it’s working because steam will start coming out from under them

Conclusion

Freezing pipes are a common problem in Michigan during the winter. When the temperature drops below freezing, water inside your pipes can freeze, causing them to burst and leak. To prevent this from happening, it’s important that you take steps before cold weather hits. If you have questions about how to prevent frozen pipes, contact the experts at Hammer Restoration.