Are you looking for ways to prevent frozen pipes in your New Hampshire home this winter? The long and frigid winter season in New Hampshire and Vermont may be great for skiing and snowshoeing, but it is not always great for your home.
When a frozen pipe bursts, it can cause a great amount of damage to the interior of your home. This can result in not only monetary expenses, which may or may not be covered by your insurance company, but also inconvenience, discomfort, and even displacement for you and your family. It depends on the severity of the damages and extent of repair needed.
Thankfully, there are a number of ways to prevent frozen pipes in your home during the winter season in New Hampshire.
6 Ways to prevent frozen pipes in your home
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Insulate the pipes that are most vulnerable to freezing, such as those in your crawl space and attic.
- You can also use heat tape or thermostatically-controlled heat cables to wrap these pipes. (Be sure to use UL-approved products and follow the manufacturers’ instructions.) -
Find leaks that allow cold air to reach your pipes, especially around electrical wiring, and seal leaks with caulk or insulation.
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Allow warm air to circulate throughout your house and around its plumbing by leaving the doors open between heated and unheated rooms, as well as cabinet doors below your sinks.
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Keep the temperature of your house to at least 65 degrees to ensure the pipes in your walls won’t freeze.
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If you are concerned about pipes freezing on severely cold nights, you can turn on your faucets (both hot and cold) until they slowly drip. The movement of the water will mitigate freezing.
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Keep your garage doors closed, as the insulation of direct entry doors may not be as well insulated as exterior doors.
More ways to protect your home's pipes during the winter
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Turn off outdoor faucets and disconnect outdoor hoses.
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Test the main water shut-off in your home before you have to use it. Every second counts if water is gushing into your home.
Extended winter vacation plans? If you plan to leave your home unoccupied for a longer time, these are additional ways to prevent frozen pipes:
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Set the thermostat to at least 55 degrees.
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Have a friend or neighbor check the temperature in your house daily.
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If you will be gone more than a couple weeks, shut off your water system and have a professional drain it.
Finally, if a pipe freezes, take care of it before it bursts. If water is not coming out of your faucets as it should, check the pipes! Heat the air around the pipe using a hair dryer, space heater, or heating pad. NEVER use an open flame or torch to heat a frozen pipe!
Protect your home this winter so you can enjoy all the fun the New Hampshire snow brings without worrying about frozen pipes.
(The tips above are provided by MMG Insurance)