How many faucets should you leave dripping? Freezing temperatures can cause plumbing problems

You might want to have a faucet drip in freezing weather.

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The southeast is preparing for several freezing temperatures that can bring headaches on the street and around the house.

One of the most important things people need to do in freezing temperatures is protecting their home’s water pipes. A broken water pipe can be a messy and potentially costly situation.

There are things you can do to protect your pipes in cold weather. Here are some tips from the Mississippi State University Extension Service and Huntsville Utilities.

Heating basics

• Keep the heating on: If you are not going to be home for a long time, make sure your thermostat is not set lower than 55 degrees.
• Seal up cracks and holes: Look for places inside and outside your home where cold air can enter and around your pipes.
• Apply heating tape: This is a special type of electrical tape that can be applied directly to pipes.
• Add extra insulation: Foam or fiberglass sleeves can be placed directly on pipes to protect them from the cold. This is especially important for pipes in attics and basements.

FYI drip taps

• Let the faucet drip: this takes the pressure off your home’s water system
• Run cold water. All you need is a drop of water to make it flow evenly through the pipes.
• According to MSU, a slow drop of water fills a gallon jug in about an hour, which is about 2 cents a night to drip one faucet. That’s a lot cheaper than burst pipes and water damage.
• The faucet farthest from your water meter should be dripping if you can only run one. It will draw water all over the house.
• Can’t I just open cabinet doors and prevent pipes from freezing? It is recommended that cabinet doors be opened to let warm air into enclosed spaces. This works well in the kitchen and bathroom. Most pipe problems, however, occur in less accessible places like garages, crawl spaces, and attics. Because of this, it is important to insulate exposed piping.

More sanitary protection

• Remove, deflate, and store the tubing used outdoors, and make sure you have closed the indoor valves that feed the tubing bibs for outdoor use. Disconnect your hose and keep the outside valve open to allow the water remaining in the pipe to expand without breaking the pipe.
• You can use a “pipe socket,” such as those sold in home repair stores, or even heat tape other specially made products to protect exposed water pipes. Even newspapers can insulate and protect exposed pipes to some extent.
• Look for other areas around the house that have water supply lines in unheated areas. Look into the basement, crawl space, attic, garage, and under the kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Both hot and cold water pipes in these areas should be insulated.
• Keep garage doors closed when there are water pipes in the garage.
• Keep the thermostat at the same temperature both day and night. If you stop using lower night temperatures, this can lead to higher heating bills. However, you can prevent a much more costly repair if the pipes freeze and burst.

What to do if you suspect a frozen pipe

• If you turn on your faucets and nothing comes out, you may have a frozen pipe. If so, leave the taps on and call a plumber. If you think your pipe has burst, turn off the water at the main house shut-off valve, but leave the taps on before calling your plumber.

How to thaw frozen pipes

• If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, you suspect a frozen pipe. Possible places for frozen pipes are outside walls or places where your water service enters your home through the foundation.
• Keep the tap open. When you handle the frozen pipe and the frozen area starts to melt, water will flow through the frozen area. Running water through the pipe will help melt ice in the pipe.
• Plug any leaks that let cold air into your house where the pipes are. This is a problem with electrical wiring, dryer vents, and pipes.
• Apply heat to the pipe section by wrapping an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, portable space heater (keep away from flammable materials), or pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or any other device with an open flame.
• Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. If you cannot find the frozen area, if the frozen area is inaccessible, or if you cannot thaw the pipe, contact a licensed plumber.
• Check all the other faucets in your house to see if you have any additional frozen pipes. If one pipe freezes, so can others.

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