Protect Your Pipes This Winter

Protect Your Pipes This Winter Protect Your Pipes This Winter With winter comes the threat of damage to your home from snow, ice, and freezing. Did you know that homeowners file five times as many claims for damage due to burst pipes than claims for fire damage? You can do something to prevent this. Here are some tips to help you avoid damage from frozen pipes. Turn on the taps Let the water run a little bit, just a drip, in extreme cold. Even if the water does freeze, this will relieve some of the water pressure and keep the pipe from bursting. Open cabinets Leave the cabinets open under your kitchen and bathroom sinks. This keeps warm air circulating around your pipes. Wrap them up If your pipes are in areas that don’t get warm air, consider insulating them with insulation sleeves or wrapping. You can get foam rubber or fiberglass sleeves at your local hardware store, or call a plumber to do it for you. Seal the gaps Cracks in your home’s outside walls or foundation should be caulked to keep cold air away from your pipes. Drain your pipes If you’re taking a trip in the winter, consider draining your pipes to prevent them from bursting. Shut off the main valve and then turn on all the taps (hot and cold) and let the water run until the pipes are emptied. Make sure they’re covered Even with all these safeguards, the cold winter weather can still cause plumbing problems in your home. Make sure you’re protected against damage with a homeowners insurance policy from Nationwide. Update feed preferences