Frozen pipes can be a financial headache. Here's how you can prevent problems this winter
Temperatures are expected to stay below freezing for several days while a polar vortex bears down on Louisville. Now would be the time to make sure your indoor plumbing is ready for the cold weather.
Frozen pipes can turn into a bigger problem when they break, forcing homeowners to put forth extra time and money to get it all fixed.
Luckily, there is a way to prevent such a headache from happening. You could start by letting cold water drip from a faucet served by outdoor pipes, the American Red Cross recommends. Then you could open up the doors underneath your bathroom and kitchen sinks to allow warm air to circulate.
According to the Red Cross, it is a good idea to drain hoses, swimming pools and water from sprinkler supply lines before temperatures dip. You could also insulate pipes exposed to cold temperatures with thick tape or newspaper. Fiberglass and slit foam can also be effective at keeping pipes warm, according to Louisville Water.
How can I prevent my pipes from bursting?
Before a winter storm hits, you will want to know where your main shut off valve is and how you can turn it off in case a pipe bursts. Turning off the shut off valve can prevent further water damage inside your home, according to Louisville Water. The valve could be located in a basement, garage, utility closet, under the kitchen sink, or in a crawlspace under your home. Once you find the valve, you will want to tag it with a brightly-colored object, like a yellow ribbon.
If your shut off valve is under your home, consider covering up the valve so that it is less vulnerable to freezing weather.
To test whether you turned off the correct valve, Louisville Water recommends turning on all the faucets in your home. If no water comes out, the main valve was shut off.
If you are concerned about frozen pipes because of past issues during winter storms, you could turn on your faucet to allow a small stream of water, rather than just a drip, flow into the sink. Louisville Water advises that if you do this, be sure to pick a faucet that will not be inadvertently turned off later.
If you notice the water pressure from a faucet is not normal, you could apply heat by turning on a hair dryer (just do not get too close to the pipe). Wrapping a heating pad around a pipe could also do the trick, according to Louisville Water.
When you notice a problem you and your family can not fix, contact a plumber as soon as possible. If you think a frozen water line impacting your home is coming from outside your property, call Louisville Water at 502-583-6610.
Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at lbertucci@gannett.com or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as Twitter
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: How to avoid frozen pipe problems before a polar vortex arrives in KY
