Freezing pipes can create a major headache. If left unnoticed for even a short period of time, large amounts of water can leak in your home and cause extensive damage to ceilings, floors, walls, structural components, and electrical systems. With frigid winter temperatures, it’s important to do everything you can to prevent such issues. Here are a few ways to protect against freezing pipes in your MA home.
Winterize Home When Vacant
If you plan to be away for an extended period of time, consider winterizing your home. This includes turning off water sources, shutting down systems that rely on water, and flushing out certain pipes. This is the best way to protect against freezing pipes in your MA home when it’s vacant during winter months. Specific processes must be used to properly winterize and avoid damage. If you are not familiar with how this should be done, be sure to hire a professional.
Set Your Thermostat at a Higher Temperature
When temperatures are cold, you actually need to keep your thermostat at a higher temperature than usual. Temperatures should remain fairly constant even while you are sleeping or away at work. Although your heating expenses will be higher, the cost of a burst pipe would be much higher.
Use a WiFi Enabled Thermostat
It’s not just kitchen and bathroom water pipes that are in danger of freezing. If your home runs on forced hot water, heating pipes are in danger of freezing as well. If your heating system is operating properly, the water within the pipes should remain fairly warm. The danger comes from your heating system breaking down without your knowledge and remaining off for long enough that the pipes would freeze.
One way to protect against this is to install a WiFi enabled thermostat. These allow you to manage your heating controls via a mobile app. Through that app, you can see the current temperature of your zone in addition to the target temperature. If the current temperature drops really now, that would alert you to an issue. Never leave such issues unaddressed for extended periods of time as pipes can freeze and burst as a result.
Install a Water Sensor with Alert
Thanks to technology advancements, you can now install water detectors that alert your cell phone! This can be used to detect water leaks (such as burst pipes) or major flooding. They are fairly inexpensive and provide an added peace of mind for homes that may be more susceptible to flooding.
Summary of Ways to Protect Against Freezing Pipes in Your MA Home
To protect your home in winter, it’s helpful to take a multi-dimensional approach. First, prevent freezing conditions by setting your thermostat at a higher temperature. Secondly, use technology tools that monitor potential problems (such as a broken heating system) that may ultimately lead to freezing pipes. Lastly, monitor and receive alerts when an issue arises, so that you can react promptly and minimize damages. We hope these tips will help you avoid freezing pipes this winter.
Other winter tips:
