Show Water flows from an ice-coated drain pipe.Oregonian A blast of cold air has the Southeast bracing for some of the coldest temperatures of the winter. In addition to protecting yourself and your pets, it’s also important to take steps to protect your home during freezing temps. This includes protecting your homes water pipes. A broken water pipe can be a messy – and potentially costly- situation. There are things you can do to protect your pipes in cold weather. Here are some tips from the Extension Service at Mississippi State University and Huntsville Utilities. Heating basics
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If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Should you let all faucets drip during freeze?When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing.
How cold should it be to let water drip?When a cold snap hovers around or below 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-6 degrees Celsius), it's time to let at least one faucet drip. Pay close attention to water pipes that are in attics, garages, basements or crawl spaces because temperatures in these unheated interior spaces usually mimic outdoor temperatures.
How fast should you let faucets drip during freeze?One of the easiest ways to prevent frozen pipes this winter is by leaving the drainage system on a slow drip. This means keeping one or more faucets on at around five to ten droplets per minute to alleviate pressure in the plumbing system.
Should you drip hot water to keep pipes from freezing?Let water drip.
A trickle of hot and cold water might be all it takes to keep your pipes from freezing. Let warm water drip overnight when temperatures are cold, preferably from a faucet on an outside wall.
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