How to Protect Water Pipes From Freezing

Keep water flowing even when temperatures dip below freezing.

Water inside plumbing pipes freezes, expands and causes pipe joints to separate and water pipes to crack, leaving a big, expensive mess. Avoiding the expenses that come with repairing, replacing and cleaning up from a burst pipe stem from prevention. Protection methods differ depending on whether the house has occupants or is empty during the cold-weather season. Homeowners can take several preventative measures to protect water pipes from freezing.

Things You'll Need

• Hose
• Antifreeze
• Rag
• Thermostatic heating tape
• Duct tape
• Foam pipe insulation
• Electric fan
• Rigid foam board insulation
• Return registers

Instructions

Unoccupied House

1. Turn off the water supply to the house at the main shutoff valve. The valve is usually located near the water meter or where the water pipes enter the house from the outside.

2. Turn off the electrical power and gas to the furnace and hot water heater. Connect a hose to the outlet valve on the hot water heater and drain the heater. If you have hot water heat, connect a hose to the main valve, open the valve for the heating system and drain the water from the lines.

3. Open all faucets in the house including showers and tubs. Flush the toilets. Begin on the top floor of the house and work your way down. Disconnect the water supply to washing machines, dishwashers and refrigerators, and drain the water into a bucket.

4. Add non-toxic propylene glycol-based antifreeze, according to the manufacturer's instructions, to all sink, shower tub and toilet drains in the house. Flush the toilets to push the antifreeze further through the sewer line. Add more antifreeze to create a barrier against sewer gases. Antifreeze protects the water in the traps from freezing.

5. Drain the water tank, if you have well water. Wipe the parts of the tank dry with a rag.

Occupied House

1. Secure thermostatic heating tape around the pipes with duct tape. Plug the heat tape into a nearby receptacle to help maintain a constant pipe temperature.

2. Wrap water pipes with foam pipe insulation and hold the insulation in place with duct tape.

3. Install an electric fan on the furnace. Direct the electric fan to blow hot air onto exposed basement water pipes.

4. Position rigid foam board insulation between the water pipes and the wall to protect the pipes from freezing temperatures.

5. Install return air registers in the walls near water pipes to draw warm room air into the wall and warm the water pipe.

Tips & Warnings

• Leaving faucets slightly open so water barely trickles out keeps the water moving through the pipes and helps to prevent freezing.

• Use only UL approved thermostatic heat tape.

References

• "Home Repair and Improvement"; Creative Homeowner Editors; 2006
• "Reader's Digest Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual"; Family Handyman Magazine Editors; 2005

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish