Water main breaks are a huge problem around Middle Tennessee right now, with WSMV Channel 4 News reporting several burst pipes caused by subfreezing temperatures
Water main breaks are a problem for the city, but burst pipes can cause issues at home as well. You know, I remember living in an apartment complex and them always saying "Drip your faucets at night" to avoid frozen pipes. I never really understood that mentality, but did some research on that very subject.
And by research, I mean Google.
Here's some tips (other than just letting your faucet drip) on how to keep your pipes from freezing and bursting, courtesy of the American Red Cross
- Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. (UNLESS YOU HAVE A SMALL 1-YEAR OLD WHO WILL LITERALLY DESTROY YOUR HOUSE IF YOU LET HIM INTO CABINETS...EXAMPLE, ME).
- When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing. (OK, THIS DOESN'T REALLY EXPLAIN IT BUT I DON'T WANT TO LEARN SCIENCE)
- Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst. (This one surprised me, because literally every night my wife cranks the heat up by like 5 degrees)
- If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F. (WHAT KIND OF MONSTER SETS THEIR HOUSE LOWER THAN 55 DEGREES?)
There, now you can be a part of the solution and not part of the problem. Also, you can avoid your pipes looking like this strange and slightly inappropriate-looking GIF.
And now, enjoy a GIF of my child unenthusiastically sliding down a ramp of ice.
Stay warm ya'll!