One of the quickest ways to ruin a cozy day snuggled up under blankets by a fire during the harsh Minnesota winter is to have to suddenly and unexpectedly deal with frozen pipes. The issue gets even worse if you are away while the pipes freeze, and you come home to find out they’ve burst and you’re dealing with water running all over your house.
Most people in Minnesota are prepared for extreme winter weather, which can include subzero temperatures and a whole lot of snow and ice. However, it can be difficult for people to foresee an issue with their pipes. Not all of us spend a lot of time thinking about our heating systems and the insulation around our plumbing, but it’s important to do so if you want to avoid major problems with your plumbing during the coldest parts of winter.
So, what exactly is it that causes pipes to freeze?
The idea is simple: your pipes may freeze if the temperature falls below freezing, and there is an even greater risk if the temperature gets below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. It is up to you to make sure your plumbing systems and your home in general are prepared to handle the extreme cold during the winter months.
With this in mind, here are some steps you can take to help avoid problems with frozen and bursting pipes this winter:
- Heat your home: You should be doing this anyway just to make sure you’re staying comfortable and healthy, but you should have your heat running during the winter. You should keep your home to a minimum of 55 degrees even when you’re away from home to make sure there’s enough warm air surrounding your plumbing. Remember, that’s a bare minimum mark—you will ideally keep your home warmer than that.
- Insulate: Make sure you have insulation properly installed in your home. This will help you keep the warm air in and the cold air out.
- Exterior-facing pipes: Make sure you’ve insulated and sealed all exterior-facing pipes, those being pipes in attics and basements, and those along exterior walls of your home. You should also fully empty and disconnect all garden hoses before winter hits and you get your first freeze.
- HVAC maintenance: Stay up to date with furnace and heating system maintenance so you don’t suffer an unexpected breakdown during the dead of winter.
- Extra precautions: If you plan to go out of town for an extended period of time during the winter, especially during the holiday season, it can help to take some extra precautions to make sure your home is heated properly. For example, you might consider installing a Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat so you can adjust the temperature while you’re away if needed. You might also want to have a friend or loved one stop by and make sure your home is in good condition.
For more information about the steps you can take to prevent frozen pipes this year, contact a septic pumping service in Prior Lake, MN.