Winterizing your plumbing system is critical to preparing your home for winter. Dealing with frozen pipes is stressful and expensive but, thankfully, preventable!

When water freezes, it expands! When it expands in your pipes, they can break. Frozen, busted pipes are a homeowner’s nightmare. They can cause leaks, water damage and expensive repair bills. Winterizing your plumbing and following some tips for extreme cold snaps can help prevent this.

We’ve put together some steps to winterize your plumbing.

Understand your plumbing system.

Before winterizing your plumbing, you need to get to know your plumbing system. Then, you can make a plan!

Every house is different, so you should understand how your home’s plumbing system is set up. For example, you’ll need to know:

• Where your pipes are located
• Which pipes are exposed to the cold
• How to get to the pipes
• If pipes are already protected from freezing temperatures

If you’re unsure about this step, contact a qualified plumbing company. They will offer thorough inspections of your plumbing system and can make recommendations.

1. Insulate pipes

Pipes at risk of freezing are often found outside, in attics, crawl spaces or garages. Check your local home and garden store for fitted pipe insulation. This product is usually made of closed-cell polyethylene foam or rubber. It also has a slit down one side so you can easily fit it over the pipes.

You can also wrap your pipes in heat tape before installing the fitted insulation. This gives an extra layer of protection if something happens to the insulation. Then, wrap the insulation in another coat of tape to give it a good seal. You can do this to all the suspect pipes exposed to the cold.

2. Fix cracks and broken seals

If cold air or moisture gets into areas where pipes are exposed, it could be a problem. Inspect your exterior walls, windows, and areas where pipes and utilities penetrate the wall. If you find any cracks, gaps or damage, reseal them or contact a licensed contractor for help. Keep that cold air away from your pipes, especially the ones you can’t reach to insulate them.

3. Insulate those open areas

Your main living spaces are properly insulated to keep you warm and comfortable in the winter. However, some areas of your home and property might not be insulated enough to protect exposed plumbing. For example, garages, attics, basements (especially around basement windows) and crawl spaces might not be insulated enough to keep those pipes from freezing.

4. Let your faucets drip

During extreme cold snaps, you might want to let your faucets connected to exterior walls drip a little to prevent freezing. Allowing a slow drip on your hot and cold-water faucets can prevent freezing and pressure buildup that causes pipes to burst.

5. Open your cabinets

If you’re experiencing risky cold weather, opening your cabinet doors allows warm air to reach those pipes. The airflow can help warm up the plumbing and prevent it from freezing.

6. Don’t forget your exterior fixtures

Your exterior plumbing fixtures must be on your home winterization checklist. Disconnect garden hoses, shut off the exterior water valve, and open faucets to allow them to drain. If you have an irrigation or sprinkler system, you should winterize the system before the temperature drops.

When in doubt, call a plumber.

If you’re unsure about winterizing your home’s plumbing system or worried about pipes you can’t access, contact a reliable plumber. They can inspect your system and make recommendations, repairs and retrofits to ensure your plumbing is protected year-round.