
The temperature outside in Appleton, WI, can get quite cold in the winter months. This can put homes at risk of experiencing frozen pipes. This is a potentially devastating situation that can cause all kinds of structural damage, mold growth, wood rot, and an interruption in your water supply. Let’s look at some of the ways you can prevent frozen pipes in your Appleton home this winter.
Adding Insulation to Pipes and Water Tanks
By adding affordable and effective insulation around your pipes, you can prevent water from becoming too cold inside those pipes. This can prevent freezing in many cases. There are several types of insulation that you can invest in, depending on your budget and where the pipes are located.
Foam Tubing Insulation
There are different types of foam tubing insulation, including polyethylene versions and those that are made with elastomeric closed-cell foam. These pieces of insulation look a lot like the long, round pool noodles that you use in your yard. However, they have a much denser composition that can keep heat inside your pipes and cold air away. These foam tubes are usually cut on one side and can be cut and fitted right over your pipes. This is a relatively affordable option to consider using to prevent frozen pipes. However, it can be difficult to use this product in areas that are hard to access.
Spray Foam Insulation
Spray foam insulation is a bit more expensive, but it’s a great option if you have pipes in hard-to-reach areas. Liquid foam is sprayed around your pipes. It will harden and cure, providing an effective amount of insulation. This option can also be used to upgrade the insulation in other areas of your home. It does a great job of sealing various cracks and gaps that are causing your home to be colder than it should be in the winter months.
Fiberglass Insulation
You’ve probably seen those big rolls of fiberglass insulation that are used throughout different areas of the home. This insulation batting can be stuffed around your pipes to provide an affordable insulation option. Unfortunately, there are a number of opportunities for gaps to remain around your pipes, decreasing the overall effectiveness of this insulation option.
Cellular Glass Insulation
Made from heat-treated crushed glass, cellular glass insulation is made to have an effective closed-cell structure. It’s also an insulation option that is resistant to any moisture that it encounters, as well as chemicals.
There is also foam glass insulation, which is also made of glass but is lighter and more flexible.
Insulating Your Water Heater
We also recommend that you add insulation to your water heater. This will keep water inside your tank warmer, so it is warmer as it moves through your plumbing system. This also boosts the overall efficiency of your plumbing system, so you experience a decrease in your energy bills each month. Not to mention, you’ll experience more comfortable water temperatures for bathing.
Insulating your water heater can also cut back on any condensation that forms on your tank or related equipment. If that area of your home is cold enough, the condensation has the potential to freeze and cause problems.
There are often incentives and rebates that can offset the cost of insulation if you’re concerned with budgeting for this upgrade. Also, take into consideration the amount of money you’ll need to spend to repair a pipe that is frozen or broken, and any structural damage that occurs along with it. Pipe insulation tends to be the more affordable option in the long run.
Maintain an Optimal Interior Temperature
It’s optimal to maintain an indoor temperature of around 68 degrees Fahrenheit inside of your home in the wintertime. This is for comfort purposes but also to keep your pipes from freezing. Many homeowners like to turn down their thermostats when they are leaving for vacation or for an extended period. While this can save you money on your HVAC expenses, it can pose a big risk for your plumbing system.
If you feel it’s necessary to turn your thermostat down substantially prior to your departure, don’t let the temperature go lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s a myth that you simply have to keep your home above freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit) in order to prevent your pipes from freezing.
You can utilize a smart thermostat to monitor your interior temperature while you’re away. If you need to make any adjustments, this can be done remotely as well. There are several other convenience features that a smart thermostat provides, such as geofencing. If your thermostat recognizes that you are close to home, it can adjust automatically in anticipation of your return. Consider having a neighbor or friend check in on your home periodically to ensure that everything looks okay and you don’t have any signs of frozen pipes.
Keeping Cabinets Open
It’s ideal that there is ample air flowing through your cabinets and vanities to prevent temperatures from getting too cold around your pipes. If you’re concerned with pipes freezing, keep these cabinets open for the time being. You can even point a space heater towards the area of your cabinets to provide warmth.
This is an ideal step to take if you lose power to your home and your interior temperature starts dropping rapidly.
Planning for Loss of Power
In addition to opening your cabinets and vanities when the power goes out, there are other steps you can take to prevent your pipes from freezing. You won’t be able to rely on heat from your furnace. However, you can invest in a whole-house generator that can provide you with power for the time being. This can also give you an opportunity to run a few space heaters in your most vulnerable areas of the home where plumbing is located. If you see that a pipe is starting to freeze, you can use your generator to run a heating pad that you wrap around your pipe.
Sealing Up Drafts
Look around your home for any gaps and cracks that may allow cold air to enter in the winter. This decreases the efficiency of your heating system, but it also promotes pipes freezing. This is especially true if you have drafts in areas where plumbing is located, like your basement or attic.
If you need plumbing assistance in your Appleton home, reach out to our team here at Black-Haak. We can help you prevent frozen pipes by installing insulation and inspecting your system for issues. We also offer installation, maintenance, and repair of heating and cooling equipment. Our other plumbing services include pipe repair, water heater assistance, drain cleaning, water filtration, and toilet repair. We also offer a wide variety of electrical services, including new wiring, generators, repairs, lighting, outlet installation, and electric vehicle charging stations.
Contact Black-Haak for heating, cooling, electrical, and plumbing assistance in Appleton today.
