The weather forecast for this weekend on Long Island is for freezing weather in the teens! Is your home ready? Water in pipes that freezes will expand and spit. This can cause extensive and costly damage to your home when the pipe thaws and water is pouring onto your walls and floor. To prevent frozen water pipes in your home, I recommend the following:

  1. Maintain heat in your home! Minimum temperature of 60 degrees.
  2. Insulate pipes using foam insulation or tape. Particularly in unheated areas like basements, crawl spaces, attics, and garages.
  3. Leave interior doors open to allow warm air to circulate.
  4. Leave cabinet doors open under sinks and vanities to allow warm air to circulate.
  5. Allow faucets to drip. Water moving through pipes is less likely to freeze.
  6. Inspect for cracks and openings to the outside. Seal up any openings that will allow freezing air in and cause pipes to freeze. 
  7. Shut off and drain all the outside hose bibs.
  8. Disconnect all garden hoses.
  9. Use heated cables or tape for pipes in unheated spaces that would be prone to freezing.
  10. If a pipe freezes and has not split, then use a hair dryer to thaw. Do not use a torch or any device with a flame.
  11. Install a battery-operated water alarm in basement, under sinks, or wherever you might expect a pipe to break. 
  12. Have a reputable licensed plumber phone number handy in case of an emergency. 

To learn more, please visit our website at www.rainrich.com. Please do not hesitate to call 631-423-2211 or email at rsilverman@rainrich.com with any questions or concerns you may have. We look forward to serving you!