Preventing Frozen Pipes: Leaving Faucets Dripping to Avoid Costly Breakages Isn't Just a Style Choice
Preventing Frozen Pipes: A Guide from Plumbing Expert Danny Pen
As winter approaches, it's crucial to take steps to protect your home from frozen pipes. Danny Pen, an expert plumber and president of New Era Plumbing & HVAC, shares his advice on how to winterize your home effectively.
According to Danny, the practice of dripping faucets before winter frost hits is a key part of winterizing a home. This simple action can help prevent frozen and burst pipes, saving you from potential costly repairs and inconvenience.
When to Drip Faucets
Danny advises dripping faucets in areas most vulnerable to freezing, such as those on exterior walls, in unheated spaces, or farthest from the main water supply. It's important to start dripping faucets as temperatures drop below 32°F, particularly overnight.
The number of faucets to drip depends on the home's pipe layout. Homes with multiple zones or long pipe runs may require more faucets to be dripped to ensure adequate water flow and prevent freezing.
Fluctuating Temperatures
In areas with fluctuating temperatures, Danny advises continuing to drip until the weather has stabilized. He also recommends checking crawl spaces, basements, and cabinet doors to ensure no localized freezing occurs.
Outdoor Faucets
Outdoor faucets should also be drained after any water-heavy outdoor activity, like power washing, to avoid trapped water causing unseen damage. Danny recommends draining outdoor faucets after the last lawn care or outdoor cleaning session in fall, before the first frost warning in the area.
Indoor Faucets
Inside the house, Danny suggests draining faucets during plumbing repairs to prevent water spurts or sediment buildup when turning water back on.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
The most common mistake when dripping faucets is not doing so before freezing temperatures hit. Another common error is insufficient water pressure, often caused by the faucet being only partially opened, leading to inadequate water supply to the connected device or system.
Additional Protection
For added protection, Danny suggests using Pipe Wrap Insulation, such as the one from Amazon. This can provide an extra layer of protection for your pipes, helping to maintain a consistent temperature and prevent freezing.
Continuing to Drip
Danny recommends continuing to drip faucets until temperatures consistently remain above freezing during the day and night. This will help ensure that your pipes stay protected throughout the winter months.
By following these simple steps, you can help protect your home from frozen and burst pipes this winter. Remember, prevention is better than repair, so take the time to winterize your home and enjoy peace of mind during the colder months.
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