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Winter Weather is Here: How to Prevent Frozen Pipes and Other Disasters of Cold Weather
MISHAWAKA/FORT WAYNE — Winter weather is here to stay and with it comes all the troubles of cold weather.
Your friends at Home Comfort Experts want to keep you comfortable and safe this winter. Did you know we offer all plumbing services?
Water can freeze in home pipes due to a malfunctioning thermostat, faulty taping or inadequate insulation. Worse, frozen water can rupture a pipe and cause major damage. Look for cracks and split pipes, and locate the main shut-off valve so you can prevent flooding when the ice melts. If you have followed all these steps, you can try applying mild heat or insulation to thaw the pipes.
Home Comfort Experts plumbers DO NOT recommend using a blow torch. You can melt copper pipes or the solder that keeps them connected together, and create more problems than you solve.
RELATED READ: 11 Tips to Prevent Frozen Pipes in your Home
To prevent these problems, remember to drain water from swimming pools and sprinkler systems. Remove and drain garden hoses and add insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces. Keep your garage door closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
When the weather is very cold outside, let cold water drip from faucets served by exposed pipes. Running water is less likely to freeze, saving your pipes.
RELATED READ: How to Avoid Frozen Pipes
If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° .
If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Likely places for frozen pipes include against exterior walls or where your water service enters your home through the foundation. You can call us, too, and we’ll help!
Contact Home Comfort Experts today for more information on preventing frozen pipes and for the insulation, heat tapes and other supplies you need to protect your home.