3 Ways to Prevent a Burst Pipe

Your Chattanooga home has massive water consumption. From the toilet to the water heater and even the washing machine, you would be lost without the convenience that this liquid provides. Some plumbing failures can cost a homeowner over $5,000 even after the deductible is paid. However, if you could just learn how to prevent your pipe from bursting in the winter, it could save you a great deal of money.

When the temperatures take a dip to below 30 degrees, frozen pipes and drains are an issue. You can prevent the damage by being proactive about pipe safety. Still not sure what you can do? Here are three ways that you can ensure you don’t encounter a busted pipe this year.

Heat Tape

This magical little system places electrical heat around all your pipes. It is one of the best ways to make sure frozen pipes don’t occur at your residence this year. They plug into the heating system and turn on when the temperatures warrant. Now you can get as fancy as you want with the types of heating systems. They really are economical and any plumber can help you find a system that works for you. The key is to get heat the area affected. It really works well too.

Leave The Water Going

If you heard this from your grandma or grandpa you’re not alone. The old timer’s believed that if you leave your water going you won’t have any problems with busted pipes. Since houses in the olden days didn’t have good insulation and such, they knew what they were talking about. We’re not talking about letting it just run full blast and waste water, but leaving a little dribble going can be really advantageous for you and your pipes.

Shut Off The Water

Shutting off the water to an outside garden hose is almost always common protocol. If you are going to be out of town and you are afraid of temperatures dipping a little beyond the freezing mark, simply turn off all the water in your Chattanooga home. You will also need to make sure that there is no water laying in the lines either. By turning off the water, you will prevent water from freezing and expanding the pipes to burst. It’s a last resort, but if you’ve done everything else and are still worried, just shut off the supply.

Avoid a costly pipe burst with these key tips! Call Metro Sewer and Plumbing at 423-855-0967 for repairs in your Chattanooga home.