If you live in an area with frigid winters, you likely have many things on your cold weather to-do list. Shoveling, clearing snow off of your roof and making sure your home heating system is in good shape help prevent costly repairs and injuries.

Don't forget to add your water pipes to your list of things to check and care for during the winter months. Frozen pipes can break and need complete replacement, so making sure you know the best practices for avoiding pipe freezing and how to deal with it if it does happen can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars in emergency repairs.

Protecting Your Pipes

• Inspect your insulation in cold areas of your home before winter weather sets in. Pipes in basements and attics are more prone to freezing, so make sure your insulation is fully intact and add extra if you think it's needed.
• Take outdoor hoses inside for the winter. Make sure to turn off valves that supply outdoor hose bibs with water and leave outdoor taps open to let any water drain out rather than getting trapped inside to freeze.
• Consider adding heat tape to your exposed pipes. Some types of heat tape turn on automatically when the temperature drops below freezing and some require you to plug the tape in to turn it on.
• Keep your heat turned to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit, even if you won't be home, to protect your pipes while you're away. When it's very cold, leave your kitchen and bathroom cabinets open to allow more heat to reach the pipes.
• Keep your faucets running at a very slight trickle when the weather will be very cold. This keeps running water flowing through the pipe constantly, so it doesn't have time to build up and freeze.

Thawing Your Pipes Safely

• Turn your faucets on as soon as you notice your pipes are frozen. The running water will help speed up the thawing process once the ice inside the pipes starts melting.
• Use an electric heating device, like a space heater, heating pad or hair dryer, to focus on the outside of the frozen pipes and help them thaw. You can also wrap towels soaked in very hot water around your pipes if you don't have an electric device to use.
• Keep using heat on the pipes until they are fully thawed. If you don't have your normal, full water pressure coming out of your faucets, the pipes aren't fully thawed yet.
• Never use any device with an open flame, like a kerosene heater or blowtorch, to thaw your pipes. There may be gas lines nearby that could lead to a fire or explosion if they are exposed to open flames.

Even if your pipes freeze, it doesn't mean that they'll burst or break completely. It's important to start trying to thaw them as soon as you notice a problem. If you can't access your pipes easily or safely, it's best to call a professional plumber for help as soon as you can.

Contact a company like R Acres Plumbing Company LLC for more information and assistance.