How to Prevent Your Pipes From Freezing In The Cold Weather To Come.

A few hours work winterizing could save you expensive repairs if your pipes should freeze and burst.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Before the cold weather sets in, remove your garden hoses, drain them and store out of the cold.
   
   Turn off the water where it leads to the sill cock. Allow the water to drain and leave it open. A freezeproof sill cock is a wise investment.
   
   If you do not have an indoor shutoff, install one.

2. The best protection for indoor pipes is to insulate the walls and ceilings of the areas where they are contained. Those located against or near exterior walls are most prone to freeze.
   
   If insulating the walls is not practical, you must insulate the pipes themselves.
   
   The easiest and quickest way to insulate pipes is with pipe jackets. These can be cut to any length, snapped around the pipe and secured with tape.
   
   You can also use regular insulation but the cutting and wrapping is time consuming and untidy.
   
   Pack insulation into especially drafty areas.
   
   Even though hot water pipes are unlikely to freeze as long as the house is occupied, insulating them will save on your energy costs.

3. If the weather is very cold, leave your taps dripping slightly. In extreme cold, consider leaving a light on near any vulnerable pipes. At this time it is also unwise to shut off any area where pipes pass and may freeze.

Tips & Warnings

• You can purchase electric heat tape to wrap your pipes. A thermostat will control the heat needed.