FREEZE WARNING! Temps tonight will be low enough to cause pipes to burst. To avoid this, leave faucets dripping and heat on... If you do encounter a broken pipe locate the water shut off (or well pump breaker in the breaker box) and call a plumber ( OR our office if you are leasing from us ). Leave cabinet doors open under the kitchen and bathroom sinks to allow warmer room air to circulate around pipes. Let faucets drip slowly to keep water flowing through pipes that are vulnerable to freezing. Ice might still form in the pipes, but an open faucet allows water to escape before the pressure builds to where a pipe can burst. If the dripping stops, it may mean that ice is blocking the pipe; keep the faucet open, since the pipe still needs pressure relief. Pipes in attics and crawl spaces should be protected with insulation or heat. Pipe insulation is available in fiberglass or foam sleeves. Home centers and hardware stores have sleeves providing 1/8 to 5/8 inches of insulation; specialty dealers have products that provide up to 2 inches of insulation. The extra thickness is worth the price and can save a pipe that would freeze with less insulation. Heating cables and tapes are effective in freeze protection. Select a heating cable with the UL label and a built-in thermostat that turns the heat on when needed (without a thermostat, the cable has to be plugged in each time and might be forgotten). Follow the manufacturers instructions closely. Exterior pipes should be drained or enclosed in 2 fiberglass insulation sleeves.
Posted on: Tue, 21 Jan 2014 21:19:00 +0000
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