The holiday season is upon us, which means cold weather and lots of traveling. Whether you are visiting a distant family member or retreating to a tropical destination, you may be tempted to turn off your heat in an effort to save money.
While this sounds like a good idea in theory, it isn’t.
One of the biggest (and most expensive) problems homeowners face during the winter months is frozen pipes. As you may recall from science class, water expands when it freezes. When the water freezes inside of your plumbing system, it creates an immense amount of pressure on your pipes, eventually causing it to burst open. Even a small crack can easily rack up thousands of dollars worth of water damage.
Frozen pipes are most common along outdoor water lines, such as your sprinkler system, but they can occur inside the home too – even when the air temperature is higher than 32°. For this reason, it is important to keep your heat on at least 60° at all times, even if you are away from the home.
Here are some others tips to help you avoid frozen pipes this holiday season:
- Disconnect all outdoor water lines at the start of winter.
- Keep your under-the-sink cabinets open to allow warm air to circulate around these pipes.
- Insulate all pipes that run along your home’s exterior walls, as these are the most susceptible to freezing.
- Close all windows and seal any air leaks near your pipes. Chilly drafts of wind can cause pipes to freeze more quickly.
If you live in Fairfax County, Virginia, count on the professionals at Air Treatment Heating & Cooling to keep your home warm this holiday season. For all of your heating repair, installation, and maintenance needs, give us a call at (703) 270-0881.