It doesn’t really get too cold in Cocoa, FL, so a lot of people don’t think of preparing their pipes for the winter. However, at Freedom Air and Heat, Inc. we think there is no harm and taking some precautions. We encourage you to take a few minutes to ensure the pipes and faucets in your home are functioning properly during the winter season. During colder temperatures, pipes can often freeze up and burst, causing a major leak. To prevent this costly problem, our team of experts is here to tell you a little bit about how you can get your pipes ready for the winter.
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Insulate Your Pipes
The best way you can get your pipes ready for the first real cold snap of winter is by insulating them. This is especially good advice if you have pipes located in unheated areas of your home such as the attic, garage or basement. You can find relatively cheap pipe insulation (ranging from $2 to $11) in your nearest home improvement store. Pipe insulation can also prevent condensation formation on pipes during high humidity conditions as well as stand-by heat loss. If you want to know more about how you can add insulation to your pipes, get in touch with a professional.
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Consider Freeze-Proof Faucets
If you have outdoor faucets, consider insulating them as well or replacing them with freeze-proof faucets. Faucet insulation caps or covers are priced between $4 to $8 dollars and can be easily installed over outdoor faucets when they are not being used. You can purchase Styrofoam covers, hard covers or nylon covers.
Freeze faucets are also a great option as they are designed to prevent freezing. The design of the freeze-proof faucet places the water connection well indoors, where water is less likely to freeze. When it comes to freeze-proof faucets you might want to ask a plumber you trust about your options.
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Shut off Outdoor Faucets
When you hear about temperatures dropping significantly, you might want to shut your outdoor faucets off completely. Outdoor faucets are particularly vulnerable to any harsh winter conditions. Turn these faucets off at their shut off valves. However, you will also want to make sure that there is no water left in the pipe as it still might freeze and crack. You will have to open the bleeder cap and place a bucket underneath to drain away any water left behind in the pipe.
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Have a Freeze-Warning Plan of Action
If you get an alert about temperature drops, you will want to follow a plan of action to prevent your pipes from freezing over. Here are some things you should keep in mind when you hear of a freeze warning:
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Disconnect Hoses
Disconnect any hoses that are still attached to the outdoor faucets. Even if they are not being used, the water inside the hose might freeze and the ice might back up into the faucet, causing it to crack.
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Shut Off the Water When You Leave Town
If you’re leaving your home for a few days and you know the temperatures might drop, be sure to shut off the water when you leave town. This can prevent pipes from freezing up and even if they do, the damage won’t be as bad.
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Don’t Turn Off Your Thermostat
When you’re out of the house for long periods, don’t turn off the thermostat as the temperatures inside your home might decrease excessively. Instead, keep your heat on but at a lower temperature to ensure you are saving energy while preventing your pipes from freezing up completely.
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Open Kitchen Cabinet
On colder days, open the kitchen cabinet doors to allow pipes to be exposed to the warmer temperature in your home.
Protect Your Plumbing with Freedom Air and Heat, Inc.
While Florida residents don’t normally have issues with freezing pipes, temps can (and have) gone below freezing in certain areas of the state. If you want to learn more about how you can protect your pipes and plumbing during the winter season, get in touch with the pros at Freedom Air and Heat, Inc. Call us today at 321-631-6886 or fill out a service request form on our website!
