Tips to Prevent Frozen Pipes in Minnesota This Winter

One of the most significant winter struggles for Minnesota residents is having to deal with frozen pipes. The biggest problem with frozen pipes is that they can lead to pipe ruptures. And if it comes to that, water damage could take a toll on your possessions, important documents, and irreplaceable personal items.

This article will highlight a few tips to avoid frozen pipes and steer clear of any damage down the road.

Avoiding Frozen Pipes

Pipes freeze when the water flowing inside them loses too much energy to the cold air outside and turns into ice. Ice takes up more volume than liquid water, so in a closed pipe that expansion leads to a build up of pressure. Eventually the ice will cause the pipe to burst.

Here are some ways you can stop that from happening. 

Insulate Your Pipes

You can prevent the temperature drop in your pipes by insulating them properly. As you insulate your pipes, make sure to pay special attention to the ones in unheated areas like attics, crawl spaces, kitchen cabinets, and garages.

You can provide some level of protection to exposed pipes by wrapping them with newspaper. To be on the safe side, however, it’s best to invest in products designed for freeze protection, like pipe sleeves, fiberglass strips, and heat cables.

Drain and Store Hoses

Remove garden hoses from your spigot, drain them, and store them indoors.

Shut off the valves supplying water to hoses outdoors, and then open the hose bibs to let all the water out. Excess air trapped inside the pipes can cause a pressure buildup, so leave the outside valves open to release any excess air. 

Invest in a Water Freeze Detector

With a water freeze detector, you can get early detection when water approaches freezing, and then take the steps to prevent frozen pipes.

This compact device uses a sensor to detect ice formation, and then alarms you audibly or with push notifications.

Leave Your Thermostat On

Keep your home relatively warm all winter so even exposed pipes don’t freeze. When you’re leaving your home for an extended period, it’s also best to leave your thermostat on to avoid the temperature in your house dropping too much. Even set at a low temperature, though no lower than 55 degrees fahrenheit, your home will retain enough heat to keep pipes from freezing.

Contact Us For Help With Your Frozen Pipes!

It is common for pipes to freeze in winters. If your pipes have frozen, you can call us at 612-564-0202 or message us online, and we will be there to help.

Restoration Network specializes in restoring properties damaged due to fire, water, or storm and helping prevent them from happening in the first place. Our highly skilled staff can help you prevent your pipes from getting frozen.

If you require our immediate help, you can contact our emergency services which are available 24/7.