5 Ways To prevent frozen pipes

December is almost here, and you know what that means... 

Frozen Pipes!

That's right - forget about enjoying Santa's sleigh and warm gatherings around the fire. Instead, you're stuck with the headache and hassle of frozen pipes in your home or business.

Here at Covert Plumbing, we don't want you to have to worry about the hassle of pipes freezing on you this winter. Let's take a look, together, on why this happens and how we can help prevent frozen pipes this holiday season (and beyond).

How & Why Do Pipes Freeze?

Waterline pipes can be made with a series of metals and plastics including:

• Galvanized Steel Pipe
• Copper Pipe
• PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) Pipe
• CPVC (Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride) Pipe, and more.

Regardless of what these water lines are made of, it cannot always prevent your pipes from freezing during extremely cold temperatures. Here in the Nashville, TN area - temperatures can reach to as low as 5-10 degrees as night (but let's not forget that wind chill! Burrrr!)

With temperatures like this coupled with an older home, you're bound to have issues with your piping and water lines. 

Here at Covert Plumbing - we're here to help you get educated on what happens when these pipes freeze and how you can prevent this from happening on your own. 

What Happens When Pipes Freeze?

When people here about freezing pipes, they don't always think about the fact that when water freezes, it expands. This is what happens with your pipes. When they become frozen, the water expansion may likely cause your pipe to break open. 

It's not just the fact that the water expands, but that when your pipes freeze, there is still water pressure flowing to that area and trying to flow through the pipe. Between the pressure and the water expansion - this will cause your pipes to break.

When your pipes break, this causes leak issues and a horrendous project to clean up and fix. 

Here in Tennessee, no matter what you do, you cannot control the weather, and the toll it takes on our homes and businesses. What we can do is best prepare as much as possible to help prevent frozen pipes. We've listed a few ways you can prevent your pipes from freezing, and allow yourselves to enjoy the holidays, and beyond!

Top 5 Ways To Prevent Frozen Pipes

1. Insulate Your Pipes!
   Pipes that are easily accessible and easily exposed to cold temperatures should be wrapped in sleeves or insulation to prevent cold air from hitting the pipe. Water lines that are accessible and susceptible to freezing are pipes in the attic, basement, garage, crawl spaces, and outside walls. You can also get electric heating tapes and cables to aid in keeping pipes warm and preventing freeze.
2. Keep Your Water Running.
   When temperatures reach below freezing - it can help to let water drip or trickle from your faucets. This is best done if you have a specific room in your home or business that does not heat well. You can also open the cabinets underneath (making sure the pipes are insulated!) to allow for heat to circulate.
3. Cover Outside Vents.
   If your home or business has a crawl space, make sure to cover your vents to help prevent any cold wind (it's hard to forget the wind chill) from freezing your pipes.
4. Maintain Your Furnace.
   Maintaining your furnace is an important part of preventing frozen pipes. By checking in on the condition of your furnace, you will help prevent many heating problems. We will talk more about how to maintain your furnace - below.
5. Keep Your Home Warm - Even When You're Gone!
   We all know it's better to enjoy the winter in Florida than it is to enjoy it here. There's nothing better than that warm, white sand between your toes. Most of us would even consider 'saving money' by turning out heating systems off while we're gone on vacation, having fun. Guess what! This may cause you to spend money rather than save it! Be sure to keep your home warm during the winter to help prevent frozen pipes within your home and walls.

Here at Covert Plumbing we strive to give you the information you need so that we are your last resort. We are passionate about teaching our customers how they can prevent issues so that they can save money and avoid emergencies.

If in fact you are having an emergency, please don't hesitate to give us a call at anytime. 

So how about that furnace we were talking about earlier? Let's see how we can keep your furnace maintained to not only avoid freezing your pipes, but also preventing any other heating problems!

How To Maintain Your Furnace

The intent of this information is to remain general for common, updated furnaces. Please be aware that your furnace may need professional maintenance. In the meantime, here are 5 easy ways you can keep your furnace running efficiently.

1. Keep Your Furnace Clean
   Depending upon where your furnace is located (typically, the attic), your furnace can collect a lot of dust and dirt due to its surroundings. A furnace, when used, is constantly running air through it. It's important to make sure that every heating season you replace the filter and clean the motor and blower. 
   
   
2. Keep Your House Sealed
   Although we can't always be sure that our home is well-insulated within the walls, we can be sure that we are keeping windows closed, doors closed, and be aware of any cold-air that tries to creep in. One thing we don't want to do is over-work your furnace. If you have open windows, doors, or poorly sealed windows and door frames, chances are you are running your furnace more than you need. Help your furnace rest by keeping up with closing your home. 
   
   
3. Open All The Vents
   Is the air flowing freely in your house? Allowing air to flow and opening vents helps your furnace work properly. Keep boxes, blankets, and furniture clear of vents so that the air is circulating appropriately.
   
   
4. Clean Your Vents & Ducts
   Every month be sure to walk around the house with your vacuum, ready to grab anything you can that may be blocking any type of free-flowing air from your furnace. Anything near or in your vents can move into your air ducts, causing your furnace to work efficiently and even breakdown pre-maturely. 
   
   
5. Be Sure The Exhaust Flue is Clear
   This only applies to gas furnaces. You need to routinely make sure that the exhaust flue is clear to avoid any harm to your home or yourself and your family. If you suspect a problem, please call an HVAC company immediately to check out your unit.
   
   

We hope this information has been helpful for you. Nashville and the surrounding areas can be frigid cold, and we don't want anyone's plumbing to stop them from enjoying the warmth of their hot showers, baths, and water to help keep their clothes and dishes washed. 

If you find yourself in need of a plumber in Hermitage, Mount Juliet, or Nashville - please give us a call at 615-887-4427.