Top Five Ways to Winterize Pipes

Top Five Ways to Winterize Pipes Copyright Adrienne Z. Milligan
Top Five Ways to Winterize Pipes Copyright Adrienne Z. Milligan

Top Five Ways to Winterize Pipes

I do not want to with frozen pipes bursting during the winter.  Do you?

It can fall to below freezing where I live at times during our winter.  The damage it causes, the mess created, the money to repair and replace, plus the huge inconvenience to my family is just not worth it.

Part of being prepared is doing the little things which can prevent bigger issues.  Winterizing the pipes in your home (or business) is one of those little things.  Winterizing may sound expensive and time-consuming.  It is not.

As I am not an expert in plumbing, I consulted with Andy of Andy Jahn Plumbing & Rooter for his expert advice on this topic.  Thank you, Andy!

Here are Andy’s Top Five Ways to Winterize Pipes

  1. When getting ready for the winter, always make sure each outside hose has been disconnected from the hose faucet.  If forgotten, do it as soon as possible.  As the cold weather turns to freezing, it is especially important to already have completed this first step.  Do not wait until the weekend to take care of this if you can.  It may be too late.
  2. Be sure to cover your outside hose faucets to help prevent them from freezing.  Purchasing hard faucet covers for three or four dollars each is money well spent to avoid thousands in damage and repairs.
  3. Check to see if you have any water pipes which are located in non-heated areas.  These pipes could be in the garage, attic, or crawlspace.  If you find pipes in these spots, you will need to insulate them as best as you can.  When heading to the hardware store, remember there are different sizes for pipe insulation [1/2, 3/4, 1 CTS (Copper Tube Size) and IPS (Iron Pipe Size)].
  4. If there are vent holes to your crawlspace, do not block them during the winter.  When you find water pipes near the vent holes, be sure to put extra insulation around them.
  5. Do you have any plumbing on an outside wall?  Keep the cabinet doors open to allow the warm air from within the room to be nearer to the pipes.  This extra amount of heat may prevent the pipes from freezing.  Running a little bit of water (a small trickle) may also help the pipes.

Do You Have to Winterize Pipes Where You Live?

As I mentioned, the area I live does not always get below freezing. Therefore, we do not winterize our pipes until the temperature starts to drop.

The winter of 2016-2017 has proven to be “one of those winters” where we have had days of below-freezing temperatures, a couple feet of snow, and ice everywhere.  As I have been writing this, it has continued to snow…

I hope this helps you become better prepared for the winter months.

Please share your experiences.

~Adrienne

23 thoughts on “Top Five Ways to Winterize Pipes”

  1. Thank for your great information that I have never known before. Now I can winterize my pipes more easily instead of spending much time as before.

    1. Evelyn, you are welcome for the information on winterizing pipes! I am glad this post helped you out. Thank you for visiting! ~Adrienne

  2. Thanks so much for that tips. Can i ask questions? How to winterize the feed pipes without busting down walls and putting installation in or wrapping pipes if wasn’t done ?

    1. Reynolds, thanks for the kind words! I hope these tips will help you keep the pipes from freezing. ~Adrienne

  3. This post makes me think back to the days where I lived in New York. It is not something we do here in Southern California but this is certainly useful advice.

    1. Elise, I am sure you would freak out if you had to winterize pipes where you live now. 🙂 I have been to New York three times. I have not lived there. It is fun to visit. Thanks for stopping by! ~Adrienne

  4. Vicky, pipes inside of the walls might be okay depending on where you live and the temperatures your area experiences during the winter. If you are concerned, please contact a local plumber to check it out. Installation can be blown into the attic and walls, so busting down walls is probably not needed. 🙂 Thank you for visiting! ~Adrienne

  5. Thomas, I agree there is less prepping to do for the summer. (Well, except for the garden!) Thanks for visiting! ~Adrienne

  6. Hi Adrienne,

    As always an interesting read. I agree with your points as I have personally tried this & I appreciate your efforts that you have selected this topic to write an article.

    By the way, It’s always pleasure to read your posts and comment.

    ~ Donna

    1. Donna, thanks so much for the visit and comments! I love being able to help others get and stay better prepared for emergencies (of any kind). ~Adrienne

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