Tips to prevent damage from frozen pipes in your home

SPOKANE, Wash. — With temperatures dropping, now is the perfect time to check the pipes in your home and protect them from freezing.

“Last year, we had one of the top years as far as frozen pipe calls, if you will, so we were definitely busy,” said Aaron Paul, service manager at Cole’s Plumbing in Spokane. “We’ve now accounted for that this year. We have enough trucks to be able to handle it.”

Winter is one of the busiest times of the year for plumbers. They are called out to save the day when pipes freeze, burst and cause water damage to their home.

“There were several weeks last year, one week in particular, that we did not stop rolling trucks out to try to help the community,” Paul said.

There are, however, ways you can keep that from happening.

One of the best things to do to prevent pipes from freezing is to keep water moving through them by simply turning the faucet on.

“I tell my wife and I tell everyone else to keep some faucets on throughout the house, even if you’re home and just sitting,” Paul said. “The more forces, the more water you have running, the less likelihood of any water freezing.”

If you are leaving town, it is crucial to either keep the water running or shut your water off completely and leave the heat on.

“I’d also recommend having somebody come and check in if you’re gone for a week. Have somebody come in and just swing by the house real quick, walk through and make sure there’s no active leaks,” said Paul.

An active leak can mean your pipe froze and burst, which could cause extensive damage to your home. Another way to check if you have leaks is with sensors you can set up throughout your time. The city of Spokane has partnered with Flume to offer discount rates on its sensors.

Paul said if your pipes do freeze, there are steps you can take to remedy the situation.

“If your pipes do freeze, one of the best things you can do is put heat on it,” he said. “You can do that with hairdryers, space heaters or opening up cabinet doors to let warm air in.”

While heating your home through the winter months can be expensive, some programs can help keep your energy bill low.

“Whether it’s emergency energy assistance, whether it’s a discount that can save you every month on your energy bill or our weatherization and essential home repairs that can actually be a long-term fix,” said Lyra Maidhoff, the energy outreach supervisor for SNAP.

If in the unlucky event your pipes do burst, your best bet is to call a plumber right away.