CAUTION: Be certain you are not running water into a drain line that is exposed to extreme cold, as that line might freeze as well. The cost of the wasted water is small compared to the damage from frozen pipes. Allow a trickle of hot and cold water to drip.Shut off the outside water valve, disconnect water hoses and drain water from pipes, via an open faucet.There are several preventive measures that can reduce your chances of having your water lines freeze.Unfortunately, for a few, the water line may rupture and cause property damage and require plumbing repairs. When this happens, you may experience only the annoyance of interrupted water service until the water in the pipes thaws. With freezing temperatures there is a good chance that unprotected water pipes will freeze.A hair dryer at the frozen area of the pipe is appropriate.Remember: When thawing pipes, slower is better.You do not want water suddenly gushing from the pipe when it thaws. If you do it yourself, shut off the water or test the shut-off valve.Thaw the pipe as soon as possible or call someone from Best Plumbers® for help.Keep your thermostat set above 65 degrees when leaving your house or business for several days.Crack a very slow drip from a faucet furthest from the place where your water enters the house.If you have an attached garage, keep its doors shut.Keep open cabinet doors leading to exposed pipes (such as access doors for sinks), so that household air can warm them.During a Deep Freeze (-5 Degrees and Below).Insulate water pipes that may be vulnerable to the cold or have caused problems before.Winterize unheated or vacant buildings.Turn off outdoor faucets and be sure to disconnect hoses from them. Turn off and drain automatic and manual sprinkler systems before first freeze.As mentioned above, know the location of your water shut-off valve switch and test it regularly.Below are some helpful plumbing tips to avoid costly plumbing damage. Cold weather can cause pipes to burst in your own household or business plumbing. Cold Weather Plumbing Tips to Save Your Plumbing. The plumbers listed in Best Plumbers® have been carefully researched, reviewed and recommended. If you would like a thorough, professional inspection of your plumbing system by an expert, please contact one of our Best Plumbers® in your area listed in the Best Plumbers® plumbing directory. Leaks can be slowed or stopped until you’re able to get a professional plumber out to your home or business. Be sure to follow the package instructions when using them. There is also the option of using chemical clog removers. Clogs and slow drains most commonly occur in areas that can be easily cleared on your own without the help of a pro (if more than one drain or toilet is affected, you will need to contact a plumber). One way to do this is to pour a half-cup of salt, a half-cup of baking soda and a half-cup of vinegar down the drain and follow with two quarts of boiling water. Maintaining your drains on a weekly basis is also a good idea to keep your pipes clear. You should also avoid dumping coffee grounds down the drain. Instead, keep it in a coffee can or milk container and dispose of it with your garbage once it’s cooled. It will harden and coat your pipes with a sticky scum that will catch other particles and eventually clog the pipe. In the kitchen, don’t pour cooking grease down your drain. In the tub or shower, invest in an inexpensive hair trap or screen to prevent the majority of hair and soap scum from going down the drain. When it comes to clogs and slow drains, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If an appliance has no valves, you will need to shut off your water at the main valve to repair it. These valves come in very handy when the need arises to repair individual plumbing appliances. If the valves fail to turn off water to the appliance, you should have them fixed by a professional plumber immediately. You should also check each plumbing appliance (water heaters, sinks, toilets, etc.) for their own shutoff valves and verify they work. Being able to shut your water off at the main valve can be vital to reducing damage to your home if a pipe were to burst. If any tools are necessary to turn off your water, keep them handy. If you can not find it or don’t know how to turn it off, contact your utility company and have them show you. This is usually either outside your home or in your basement or crawlspace. The number 1, most important thing you can do is find out where the main water shutoff valve is and how to turn it off. One thing is for certain, it always pays to be familiar with your plumbing system so you can minimize the damage caused by plumbing problems as well as fix minor plumbing problems on your own. In most cases, plumbing problems usually revolve around one of three things: clogs, leaks, or drips.
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