The first day of winter is coming, and as temperatures drop below freezing in some areas (and remain bitterly cold in others), there are some important things to remember to avoid frozen pipes and their subsequent costly repairs.

Investing time in preventing frozen pipes is worth it because it can potentially save you anywhere between $400 and $1,500 or more in repairs, not to mention the additional expenses related to water damage to your home.

Whether or not you have travel plans this winter, you can have peace of mind knowing that your pipes are in good condition. By incorporating these expert tips into your winter home maintenance routine, especially during severe cold snaps, you can ensure that you and your household stay comfortable all season long.

Looking for more home tips to keep you warm and fill your wallet? Learn to save money on water heating costs, stay warm with your ceiling fan And adjust your thermostat for greater comfort and savings.

Cover exposed pipes

When your water supply lines are exposed, they are more likely to freeze and burst, especially if they are located along exterior walls or in unheated spaces like a basement or attic. To prevent this, it is a good idea to protect the pipes with insulation.

Covering your exposed plumbing is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to prevent burst pipes. Your local hardware store will have several different materials you can use to insulate your pipesincluding foam and fiberglass insulation. You can even use newspaper to cover your exposed pipes if you live in an area where freezing temperatures only occur occasionally.

Insulate unheated areas

When plumbing runs through an unheated basement, attic, garage, or crawl space, the pipes don’t receive as much heat as they would in a heated bedroom or living room. By insulating unheated areas of your home, your pipes will stay warmer and be less likely to burst. Additionally, well-insulated homes retain heat more effectively, which can you save money on heating bills in winter.

If you are the DIY type, you should be able to add insulation yourself. Otherwise, you can hire a professional to do it for you. Either way, it’s a cost-effective and energy-efficient way to protect your pipes and keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

Keep a tap on on cold days

You might be surprised to learn that something as simple as turning on a faucet can help prevent pipes from freezing. But in reality, it’s one of the most effective things you can do. You don’t need to leave your faucet running at full speed, but make sure you have at least a slow drip.

For best results, choose the faucet it’s furthest from your water source. This will force water to flow through much of your plumbing system, keeping it active and less likely to freeze. Likewise, if you have faucets served by exposed pipes, it’s a good idea to let them flow as well.

Open doors of bathroom and kitchen cabinets

Another small (but useful) strategy to prevent burst pipes is to open the cabinet doors under your kitchen and bathroom sinks. As you do this, the heated air from your home will begin to circulate under your cabinets and warm your pipes.

It is especially important to open your cabinet doors if they are located along an exterior wall of your home. As you might expect, pipes in these areas are more likely to freeze because they are closer to the cold outside.

Don’t adjust your thermostat

You may be familiar with the Department of Energy’s recommendation to adjust your thermostat during the winter to save energy, but these tips don’t apply during a cold snap.

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Instead, you should keep your thermostat at constant temperature throughout the day and night. This will help your pipes stay warmer, making them less likely to freeze and burst. Additionally, maintaining a consistent temperature will put less stress on your ovenwhich is important in periods of extreme cold.

Seal leaks and drafty areas

Our final tip to prevent burst pipes this winter is to seal drafty areas in your home. When there are gaps or leaks between the interior and exterior of your home, it’s possible for cold air to enter, lower the temperature around your plumbing and burst your pipes.

The good news: It’s easy to plug these leaks. Start by taking a quick walk around your home and looking for any places where air might be getting in, including window and door frames, electrical wiring, and dryer vents. Once you’ve identified problem areas, use insulation or caulk to seal them.

The essentials

Even if home maintenance isn’t your strong point, you should be able to complete all of these repairs in just one weekend. It may seem inconvenient, but making these minor upgrades is a small commitment that can prevent serious problems and costly repairs in the future.

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