LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The current weather forecast is predicting freezing temperatures over the next few days and Lake County Special Districts is reminding everyone to protect their water pipes from freezing.
A few precautionary steps may help avoid the messy and often expensive issue of frozen pipes.
The following tips are suggested.
Seal out cold air
Caulk around pipes where they enter the house and close all foundation vents. This will stop cold winter air from blowing into your house.
Open foundation vents are probably the greatest cause of frozen or split water pipes. You will not only protect your pipes, but you may also reduce your winter heating needs.
Be sure to remember to open the foundation vents again in the spring to prevent moisture damage and dry rot.
Protect outside pipes and faucets
For newer homes, the outside hose bibs are frost free, meaning that the shut off valve is actually located deep inside the insulated wall.
If you are not sure if the hose bib is frost free, when you turn it off and water continues to drain for a few seconds, this is a good indication that the hose bib is frost-free.
If you are not sure or if you do not have a frost-free hose bib, then you will need to wrap the hose bib with newspapers or rags covered with plastic, fiberglass or molded foam-insulating covers to wrap the faucet. Premade molded foam insulating covers are available at most plumbing and hardware stores.
Disconnect all outdoor hoses from the faucets
This allows water to drain from the connected pipes. When a hose is attached, one overnight freeze can cause the faucet or the pipes to crack.
Locate your water shutoff valve
Know where your main water shutoff valve is outside of your home.
Typically they are located near the water meter or where the water pipes enter the house from the outside.
It is very important to know where this valve is located because if a pipe bursts anywhere in the house – kitchen, bath, basement or crawl space – this valve will turn it off.
Insulate the pipes
Wrapping will protect pipes from freezing.
Check your house for pipes in unheated areas such as the crawl space, attic, garage or basement. Use insulating tape or molded pipe sleeves (available at most home improvement stores) and wrap it over the entire length of exposed pipe.
Foam pipe insulation is split down the middle and you just slip it over the pipes. You may need to cut the insulation to fit certain lengths.
Cover all valves, pipe-fittings, etc. with insulating tape or fiberglass insulation.
Unoccupied house?
When leaving the house for an extended time, or if you live in an older home, consider opening cabinet doors in the kitchen and bathrooms.
Water lines supplying the kitchen or bathrooms are frequently located next to outside walls. Any air leaks in the siding or insulation can cause these pipes to freeze. Leaving these cabinet doors open when the temperature is below freezing allows pipes behind the cabinets to get more heat.
You can also contact a local plumber to winterize your home if it will be vacant during the winter.
Frozen pipes are particularly hazardous in vacant homes because nobody is home to hear or notice water running from a broken pipe.
If your pipes freeze, thaw the lines safely. If you know where the lines are frozen, you can attempt to thaw them with a hair dryer set on low heat. Wave the dryer back and forth along the frozen area. Thawing won’t be fast, but it will be safe.
If you have any questions, call Special Districts at 707-263-0119.