It’s hard to believe that temperatures were in the 80s on Sunday! This week however is very different. Mother Nature has abruptly brought our area back into winter.
The pattern through next week looks very cold. In fact, several widespread freezes are likely through next week with lows in the 20s.
Low temperatures won’t tell the full story though. When you factor in the wind, it will feel like the single digits and teens for many spots later this weekend.
Here are a few tips about how to protect your pipes in the cold.
When temperatures are below freezing and the water in your pipe freezes, water expands when frozen. In a small enclosed pipe outdoors or an exterior wall, the pipe bursts due to the expansion of the water.
One way you can prevent this from happening is to add insulation in cold-prone areas and add specific products to pipes. A pipe sleeve, for example, can help prevent this because the sleeve provides insulation to the pipe.
During cold weather, make sure you allow cold water to drip from faucets. Doing so allows water to keep moving in the pipe, which is harder to freeze and also releases pressure as the water expands.
Make sure to keep the heat on in your house and keep temperatures at a minimum above 55 degrees. Also, open your cabinets to help warm the pipes.
Speaking of the cold, make sure to dress in multiple layers to avoid frostbite. Frostbite can occur on exposed skin within minutes if temperatures are low enough. Wind pushes the layer of heat away from our bodies which is why it feels much colder when wind is introduced.