The days are getting shorter, and winter is just about upon us. Even in the warmer climate in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, you can be at risk of frozen water pipes when an arctic blast blows through. There are steps that you can take to minimize the risk that you’ll lose the flow of water, or even worse, that a pipe will break and flood your home. Here are simple measures you can take to winterize your home.

Let a Faucet Drip

Moving water is far less likely to freeze than static water, even if it’s moving very slowly. Open the tap at one of your sinks just enough to have a steady stream. The tap doesn’t need to be wide open…just enough that the stream of water is generally uninterrupted. The best faucet to drip is the one farthest from where the water enters the house.

Open the Cabinets

When you open the cabinets below your sink, you let more warm air and reduce the risk of freezing pipes, especially if your sink is against an exterior wall. It’s also helpful to turn your thermostat up a few degrees. You may pay more to heat your home, but it will be far less than the cost of fixing a broken water line.

Insulate Your Pipes

A cheap and effective way to reduce the risk of frozen water lines is to wrap any exterior pipes and pipes near or along exterior walls with some insulation. You can buy foam insulation preformed to fit over pipes, but any insulation will work. Make certain, though, that your pipes are wrapped all the way around, and make certain that the insulation is secured so that it won’t fall off the pipe.

Turn Off Your Water

If it’s a summer cottage or plans to be gone for a week or two, it’s advisable to turn off the water, but you’ll need to drain any water you have in the house. Once you’ve turned the water off, you can open faucets in the house until they are empty. There will still be some water in the pipes, but not enough to cause any meaningful pressure in the pipes. If you leave the faucets open, that will further relieve any pressure that might build up.

Contact Public Service Plumbers

To learn how we can help you, call (214) 753-4633 or contact us by e-mail and we’ll schedule an appointment.

At Public Service Plumbers, we answer our phones 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We can send our service personnel to your home or business anytime, day or night. All of our plumbers are factory-trained and factory-certified.

Public Service Plumbers
5610 Dyer Street
Dallas, Texas 75206
(214) 753-4633