Avoid freezing pipes with these tips

Pipes typically burst when the water inside them freezes and expands. This creates local pressure beyond what normal metal pipes can withstand. When the pipes begin to warm back up, the built-up pressure within them releases at a rate beyond what the pipe can endure.

Before the onset of cold weather, protect your pipes from freezing by following these recommendations:

• Keep your thermostat at 60 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. A pipe can freeze in less than 8 hours, so keep the heat on during the day, and even if you leave the house for a few days.
• Let your faucets drip to prevent freezing water from causing pipes to burst.
• Drain pools and outdoor water hoses.
• Add insulation to unheated spaces or pipes in those spaces, like attics, basements, and crawl spaces.
• Leave cabinet doors open around pipes to ensure they receive warm air flow from your home.

Additional tips for large facilities are in this document: www.townofmilton.org/sites/miltonma/files/news/water_pipe_freeze-up_prevention_8.24.17.pdf