As temperatures are forecast below zero this week, now is the time to make sure you don’t wake up to find a foot of water in your basement thanks to a frozen water pipe that burst. Most homes’ water pipes are safe but homeowners with garages under living space or pipes running through unheated areas should take measures to keep them from freezing:

• Insulate pipes in unheated areas like crawlspaces, unheated garages and attics.
• Pay special attention to pipes near basement windows and make sure they are well insulated.
• Leave some heat on in unused areas of your home.
• If you go out of town for a few days, keep your thermostat on at least 55 degrees and open any cabinets where sink plumbing is against an outside wall. If necessary, keep a pencil-thin stream of cold water flowing from a faucet to prevent freezing.
• If you are leaving town for an extended period, have your home and pipes professionally winterized.

If a pipe does freeze and burst, know where the water system master shutoff valve is – normally in the basement – and turn off the water to prevent more damage.

In today’s video from Today’s Home Remodeler TV, Plumbers 75 member Luke Bauer from Monona Plumbing explains how to prevent outdoor faucets from bursting pipes.

Subscribe to the Remodeler TV Blog or check out our Roku channel for informative videos on home building, remodeling and maintenance and be sure to like us on Facebook!