Protecting Your Pipes During Winter Weather
By: Monica Yantosh
Updated: January 3, 2013
Rusty Geistweidt said he gets the same calls every year about people saying they don't have any water, all because their pipes have frozen.
"That's the number one call," said Geistweidt. "Once they're frozen, you may or may not get them un-thawed."
Geistweidt owns Phil Kerr's Heating and Plumbing. He has some very easy tips on how to help people avoid the frustration of frozen pipes.
"The best way to do that is simple things, like keeping your sink running," said Geistweidt.
He said running, not just having your sink drip, will help keep pipes from freezing. By allowing the water to run, the water will more easily, and quickly, move through the pipes, helping them not freeze.
"I have seen pipes freeze on cold spells, you know, in the teens," said Geistweidt. "Drippings just not going to do it."
Another piece of advice he has is for anyone who won't be home for a few days, and it's something as simple as taking advice from car care: using anti-freeze in your sink or toilet tank. "It's just mixing with water like we do to keep our cars from freezing," said Geistweidt. "But if you've got water and anti-freeze in your traps and in your commodes, in the bowl or in the tank, and say the heater quits working, and you're gone, then that will help keep those sinks from freezing."
His last advice is to open up cabinet doors where pipes are in either the kitchen or bathroom, which allows the heat from the room to surround the pipes. "You're just going to have to sacrifice and maybe turn your heat up a little higher, to let it help do those things," said Geistweidt.
He also said the cost that might be seen on any water or heating bills would be much less than what it would cost to bring in a professional to help clean up frozen pipes.
"That's the number one call," said Geistweidt. "Once they're frozen, you may or may not get them un-thawed."
Geistweidt owns Phil Kerr's Heating and Plumbing. He has some very easy tips on how to help people avoid the frustration of frozen pipes.
"The best way to do that is simple things, like keeping your sink running," said Geistweidt.
He said running, not just having your sink drip, will help keep pipes from freezing. By allowing the water to run, the water will more easily, and quickly, move through the pipes, helping them not freeze.
"I have seen pipes freeze on cold spells, you know, in the teens," said Geistweidt. "Drippings just not going to do it."
Another piece of advice he has is for anyone who won't be home for a few days, and it's something as simple as taking advice from car care: using anti-freeze in your sink or toilet tank. "It's just mixing with water like we do to keep our cars from freezing," said Geistweidt. "But if you've got water and anti-freeze in your traps and in your commodes, in the bowl or in the tank, and say the heater quits working, and you're gone, then that will help keep those sinks from freezing."
His last advice is to open up cabinet doors where pipes are in either the kitchen or bathroom, which allows the heat from the room to surround the pipes. "You're just going to have to sacrifice and maybe turn your heat up a little higher, to let it help do those things," said Geistweidt.
He also said the cost that might be seen on any water or heating bills would be much less than what it would cost to bring in a professional to help clean up frozen pipes.
