In Georgia, the weather can go from 70 to 30 in a day. Making sure your home is prepared for a cold snap is wise to avoid major plumbing issues. The team at FitzGerald & Sons Plumbing Company recommends the following precautions to make sure your home is ready when winter comes:

  • Keep an Eye on The Daily Low—During the day, the weather may be warm enough to not impact your pipes, but if the low of the day is mid to low 20s or below, you may wake up with frozen or burst pipes the next morning. Follow the pipe preparation steps to follow to prevent inconvenient and expensive pipe issues. Insulation by itself may not prevent your pipes from freezing, but could help, especially if paired with a heat source. If the freezing temperatures are combined with wind and a lack of power, which does happen sometimes in our region, there is potential for danger.
  • Get Your Pipes a Parka—Having your pipes properly insulated can prevent your pipes from freezing or breaking. You can purchase insulation made from fiberglass or polyethylene and heat tape from your local home improvement store. Many homeowners feel comfortable with wrapping their pipes DIY style. Be sure to follow the instructions on the heat tape if using on a non-metal pipe. Ignoring the instructions could result in worse problems than a burst pipe. If you need guidance, our team is standing by to offer support as you layer up your pipes for winter.
  • Leave Your Faucets Dripping—If the temperature is expected to fall significantly below freezing at night, leave your faucets dripping to help prevent inconvenient pipe freezing or bursting. Even if your pipes do freeze, leaving them dripping alleviates the pressure on your pipes and they will be less likely to burst.
  • Seal Up Your Home’s Exterior Walls—Especially on cold nights, you do not want to allow cold air to seep in your home. Not only will your heating bill be impacted, but your pipes could be at greater risk. Grab some caulk or spray foam and fill in any cracks you find in your home’s exterior. Being pro-active could save you significant hassle and expense from having a broken pipe.
  • Cozy Up Your Crawl Space, Garage Door, and Basement Windows—In addition to making sure you have the cracks sealed up, make sure these notoriously drafty spots are properly insulated. Your pipes are better protected when your home is insulated, and the cold air is not welcomed in.
  • Open Your Cabinets—This is the easiest way to help your pipes get some heat. If you open the cabinets directly below your faucets, warm air will more likely reach your pipes and prevent freezing.

Be pro-active and avoid the inconvenience and expense of damaged pipes. The FitzGerald and Sons team is standing by to help if you end up with a pipe emergency!

 

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