Protecting Your Home’s Pipes This Fall and Winter

Prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting.

While temperatures in the state of Texas do not generally fall below freezing during the fall months, it’s still important to know how you can prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting.  Knowing which steps to take will ensure that you don’t have to deal with the damage caused by burst pipes this winter.  Here’s what you can to do to protect your home’s pipes when temperatures drop.

1) Keep Your Heat On: One of the easiest ways to keep your pipes from freezing is by leaving the heat on inside your home.  Keeping your thermostat set at 55°F or higher will ensure that the pipes inside your home do not get cold enough to freeze over.

2) Open Up Cabinet Doors: Another way to prevent your pipes from freezing is by opening up all the doors inside your home, especially the cabinet doors in your bathrooms and kitchen.  Opening up these doors will make it easier for warm air to circulate around the pipes concealed behind your cabinetry.

3) Keep Your Garage Door Shut: Many homes have their main waterlines located in the garage.  The best way to prevent these waterlines from freezing over is by keeping your garage door closed to the frigid outside air.  This will prevent the temperature of your garage from dropping so low that it causes the water inside your pipes to freeze.

4) Let Your Faucets Drip: Finally, allowing the faucets in your home to drip slightly can prevent them from freezing.  Leaving your faucets open will keep water circulating in your pipes.  When the water is moving, it reduces the chances of it freezing and causing your pipes to burst.

These are some of the steps that you can take to prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting this fall and winter.  Want another way to take care of your home this season?  Then make sure you have the right homeowners insurance in place.  For assistance with all your home coverage needs, contact us at Mike Leonard Insurance Agency.  Our dedicated team is eager to find you the right coverage from one of our many carriers including: Kemper, MetLife, Travelers, The Hartford, Safeco Insurance, Progressive, and American Strategic Insurance.