Winter Tips: Prepare For Freezing Temperatures

Walk around the home searching for any exposed water pipes or sprinkler pipes that may be open to the outdoors. (Cold temperatures and wind chill can freeze pipes and/or cause them to burst.) Disconnect garden hoses and drain the water from them. Insulate hose bibs. Identify where your emergency water shut off valve is located and inform everyone in the home where it is and how to use it. This can limit the amount of damage in a plumbing emergency.

Insulate the pipes with approved foam pipe insulation. If you cannot get any pipe insulation you may use fiberglass insulation, rags, towels, or newspaper as long as you seal it with plastic to prevent it from absorbing water.

Also insulate piping in unconditioned spaces if possible. Examples: garage, basement, attic, outdoor water heater closets, etc.
If you can't access or are unsure if you have piping in your crawlspace under the house you can temporarily cover the vents with flat foam insulation cardboard at a minimum. This will reduce the amount of airflow into the crawlspace to help keep temperatures higher. (Remember to remove the vent covers after the freezing weather goes away.)

Keep indoor thermostat setting above or hotter than 55 degrees. Open the cabinet doors under sinks to allow the warm air in the home to heat under the sink piping as well.

Turn on a small trickle of hot water and cold water to taps located on exterior walls. Water that is flowing is less likely to freeze and burst. Caution: your drain must be draining properly, you do not want a slow drain to overflow and flood your home.

If you have any Plumbing questions you would like to ask uIf you have any Plumbing questions you would like to ask us, please free to call or email.

Jackson Plumbing

Postal Address
P.O. Box 5108
Waikiwi
Invercargill 9843

Tel: 03 214 9444
Tel: 0800 THE PLUMBER
Email: jacksonplumbing@xtra.co.nz
Website: www.jacksonplumbing.co.nz