Winter Water Pipe Protection

There is scarce a more trying time on one’s new home than winter. One specifically difficult area to worry about is the water pipes in your house. Obviously, during the winter, it is important to keep these pipes shielded from the freezing temperatures; otherwise, you could have a very bad situation on your hands. This is all the more difficult if you are a first time homeowner.

If the water pipes in your home are not insulated and the temperature is less than 20 degrees, they are at serious risk of freezing and then bursting. A seemingly insignificant crack of only one-eighth of an inch is enough to let 250 gallons of water leak out each day and cause significant water damage in your home. Anything in the vicinity of this water is fair game, be it clothes, furniture, children’s toys, and other things of this nature. On top of soaked items in the home, this could cause danger to your home’s foundation, as the water can cause the foundation to rot, and any metal to rust. This is, of course, excluding the mold that would most certainly follow such a massive leak. The mold is considered by many the most dangerous of these afflictions brought on by water damage, as mold can be inhaled and cause serious health problems. While insurance companies do not cover damage caused by mold, they do, however, cover water damage to an extent.

It is important to know how to protect your home from these bursts. And one of the very first things to be done is to cover all indoor water pipes with insulation. You should make sure that warm air is capable of reaching your pipes during a deep freeze. This can be done by simply putting a space heater in the room with the pipes and opening the cabinets. But, be careful with those space heaters. If you leave them unattended for a long period of time, there is a chance for fire. And definitely do not keep them near anything easily flammable. And it’s also important that you don’t used extension cords, as there is an increased risk for fire, and a fire is worse than burst pipes.

You should check your house for any cracks that water could leak into, because when the water freezes, it will expand and cause further damage. You should also be sure that you disconnect garden hoses and keep a small portion of water running through hot and cold water faucets.



Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
New Jersey mold damage restoration and other states and cities such as
Connecticut mold remediation companies across the united states.