Hank Williams - Realtor - Atlanta

Helpful hints for the cold weather we're facing.

Winter is here and with it comes the risk of frozen pipes. Frozen pipes can be a major inconvenience, causing water outages and other repairs. Here are a few tips to help prevent your pipes from freezing:

- Leave your faucets dripping. A slow trickle of hot and cold water can help prevent your pipes from freezing.

- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing, especially if the back of the cabinet faces an exterior wall.

- Keep your garage door closed. If you have pipes running through your garage, make sure to keep the door closed to keep the cold out.

- Disconnect your garden hoses from your outdoor faucets before freezing occurs. Leaving them connected can allow cold air to enter the pipes and cause them to freeze.

- Insulate your pipes. Make sure to insulate any pipes that are exposed to the cold, especially those in unheated areas like basements, attics, and garages. Insulation for pipes is available at all most all hardware stores, is inexpensive, and is very, very easy to install yourself.

- Know where your water shut off valve is located, both at the street and in your home in case of a pipe burst. Understand how to shut off the water and restore water when safe to do so.

Bonus tip: Keep your thermostat at a consistent temperature. Keeping your home warm helps prevent your pipes from freezing. Even if you're going to be away, set your thermostat to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit to keep your pipes warm.

By following these tips, you can help protect your pipes from the cold and avoid other repairs.

If you have plumbing questions or frozen pipe troubles, give RooterPLUS a call. Not only are we open 24/7, but we have your back when everything else is falling apart.