The cold weather can cause pipes to freeze and burst in your home. This can result in thousands of dollars of damage.
Fortunately, there are several tips you can take to prevent your pipes from bursting. Follow them to avoid costly and stressful water leaks this winter.
Prevent Frozen Pipes
When a pipe freezes, it can crack and break causing water to leak into your home. The resulting water damage can be very costly and leave your home uninhabitable for several days.
In order to avoid this, you should take preventative measures to protect your pipes before the cold weather hits. It’s also important to know how to thaw a frozen pipe in case it does break or crack.
Frozen pipes are usually caused by quick drops in temperature, poor insulation or thermostats set too low. The best way to prevent freezing is to keep your home at a consistent temperature both during the day and night.
Keep Your Thermostat Set at 55 Degrees Fahrenheit
Keeping your thermostat set at 55 degrees Fahrenheit will not only keep your pipes from freezing, it will also save you money. According to Energy Star, this is the ideal temperature for a home that is comfortable yet not too hot or too cold.
If you want to save even more on your heating costs, the Department of Energy says you can cut your bills by 10% a year simply by turning your thermostat back 7-10 degrees from your normal setting for eight hours a day.
This technique is called thermostat setback and it is a very effective way to save money while also maintaining a warm environment in your home. It works best if you adjust your thermostat while you are away from the house, and then return it to a warm setting when you come home.
Keep Your Water Heater Running
If you’re a homeowner or renter, it’s a good idea to keep your water heater running. Keeping it running can help prevent pipes from freezing, which is a major cause of pipe bursts.
The best way to keep your water heater running is by setting it at the recommended temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This can save you a lot of money on energy bills over the long run.
Most homeowners leave their water heaters set at a temperature that’s higher than
they need. This makes your water heater work harder to keep the water at that temperature.
Besides the extra stress on your water heater, this can also lead to other problems down the line.
The most important step is to prevent frozen pipes from bursting in the first place. This can be done by keeping the thermostat at a reasonable temperature day and night, as well as opening cabinet doors to allow heat to circulate around your home.
Keep Your Home Warm
There are a number of things you can do to keep your home warm and prevent pipes from bursting. These tips are simple, affordable, and can save you money over time.
First, make sure all doors and windows are sealed properly. This will reduce the amount of heat that leaks out during cold weather and help to keep your heating bills low.
Another tip is to move furniture around your house to increase the amount of circulation in your home. For example, if you have a couch or chair in front of your radiator, you may want to relocate it so that the hot air can easily circulate.
Aside from preventing pipes from freezing, these simple steps will also help to prevent water damage in your home. A burst pipe can cause costly and extensive damage to your home and household contents. For more information https://www.fixitrightplumbing.com.au/plumber-adelaide/ and websites that contain plumbing services can help you with more tips and information regarding plumbing.
