Freezing water pipes and drain traps can not only cause water damage but flood in your basement / crawlspace and costly to remedy, not to mention the great inconvenience when those pipes burst.
So here are some things you should do if you haven’t already:
- disconnect your garden hoses from your outside faucets
- if you have frost-free sillcock (i.e. a water faucet / hose bib) with a vacuum break installed with a downward pitch to the exterior you should be okay, but if there’s an interior shut off valve, why not turn it off too
- if you have regular sillcocks, turn off the interior shut off valve to it and open the exterior faucet and bleeder valve to allow it to drain.
Ensure all your exterior water supply lines, drain traps and the likes are protected from freezing to prevent the pipe from bursting and causing any water damage to your home as well as the cost of all the water spilled if you are not at home during the burst. Don’t forget about any water supply lines in an unheated garage either.
Play it safe, be prepared and protect your water lines from freezing.
Leave a Reply