Now that we are in the heart of the winter season, it’s time to discuss frozen pipes. Frozen pipe prevention is something that all homeowners must consider when the weather gets cold, and Lake Nacimiento homeowners are no exception!
Ideally, you should prep your pipes in the fall, to prevent freezing or bursting when the weather becomes cold suddenly. However, there are still steps you can take now. Keep this list of steps handy for cold winter’s days or nights:
1. Turn your faucets on. This should be done if the weather drops below freezing and stays there. Turn on faucets both inside and out, as low as you can, so only a few drops of water drip out each minute.
2. Open cabinet doors. If you’ve got cabinet doors covering your plumbing in the kitchen and bathroom, such as under the sinks, open the cabinet doors so your home’s heat can better circulate the area.
3. Wrap your pipes. Even if pipes have already begun to freeze, wrap steaming towels around exposed pipes to help heat them up quickly and get the water moving. You may want to wear gloves for this!
4. Use your hairdryer. Another method of quickly heating pipes that have begun to freeze is to blow your hairdryer on them. You could also set up a heater outside of your cabinet and blow it in with the cabinet doors open. Don’t use anything that produces direct flames, so you don’t melt your pipes.
5. Shut off the water. If you come home from being out of town and find that your pipes are already frozen, turn off the water immediately. Close off any external water sources, such as garden hose hookups. This will prevent pipes from bursting, which is worst case scenario. If you know you’re going out of town, turn your water off before you leave, just in case.
6. Insulate properly. Seal any leaks you see in your home’s exterior, especially if located near pipes. Add insulation to attics, garages and crawl spaces. Every little bit helps to keep your home and pipes warm!
7. Install Wi-Fi alert devices. There are actually Wi-Fi enabled devices now that will send you an alert if the temperature of your pipes drops to a dangerous low.
8. Schedule a boiler tune-up. Make sure your heater is in good condition. If your heat happens to go out, start your faucet drips immediately, as your home will cool off quickly.
Did you know that even a small crack in a pipe could send as much as 250 gallons of water into your home? A burst pipe could cost thousands of dollars of damage to your Lake Nacimiento home. It’s worth following these prevention tips to make sure it doesn’t happen to you!
Good luck keeping your Lake Nacimiento home safe and dry this winter season! For more home-maintenance tips for lake homeowners, and information on local Central Coast events and attractions, keep up with my blog in the New Year! As your Central Coast real estate agent, I am here to keep you informed and to help you with all of your real estate needs.
Grace Borzini
Your Local Lake Nacimiento Real Estate Expert
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Oak Shores Realty specializes in Oak Shores at Lake Nacimiento properties. Please contact us today to get more information on Lake Nacimiento lake homes. Oak Shores Realty can also provide you an insiders “Lake Nacimiento Buying Guide” with great information including maps and market information.