How to Keep Your Pipes from Freezing on a Holiday Getaway

You are making plans to be out of town for the holidays and have some concerns about what you may find when you return should the weather turn cold. Perhaps you have given some thought to the damage a burst pipe can inflict on your home before you have put your bags away?

Homeowners in the Tri-State region put these questions to us at K & H Plumbing, LLC each winter. We are a veteran-owned plumbing firm out of La Crosse, WI with a good following in Onalaska, Holmen, West Salem, Bangor and Viroqua as well as in parts of Minnesota such as Winona and La Crescent. Give us a ring at (608) 903-8814 for some peace of mind ahead of your travels.

In a Wisconsin winter there is no problem more costly or frequent for a homeowner than frozen pipes. The rub is they tend to occur when you are not there to put a stop to it. It does not take much for a small frozen area to become a burst pipe and flood the place in hours.

Some forethought will serve you well though. We have put together a straightforward way to ensure your pipes are in good order while you are off enjoying yourself.

The Reason Behind Frozen Pipes

It is simple physics: water expands on freezing. Put a blockage of ice in a pipe behind a closed faucet and the pressure will eventually make the pipe give way. You will want to be on top of any pipes in an unheated or ill-insulated part of the house.

Pay particular attention to:

• Exterior walls
• The basement or crawl space
• Attics and garages
• Under the sinks in the kitchen and bath
• Hose bibs and outdoor faucets
• Supply lines in rooms you do not heat

A Few Things to Do Before You Go

Too often we see homeowners who did not act until after the fact. A quick run through this list will head off most trouble.

We would advise the following prior to your departure:

• Do not let the thermostat go below 55 F
• Open up the cabinet doors beneath the sinks to let in some warm air
• Allow a drip from a faucet to keep things moving in the line
• Turn off the valves to the outdoor faucets and drain the garden hoses
• Use foam sleeves or heat tape on exposed pipes
• Caulk or put in weatherstripping to stop drafts by the pipes
• Make note of where the main shutoff is

You would be surprised how important that last item is. Should the worst happen, you can point a house sitter or neighbor right to the valve and be out of pocket far less.

Is it better to shut the water off?

On an extended trip one cannot do much better than to close the main supply. No water in the lines means nothing to freeze. Once the main valve is off, open some of the faucets to relieve pressure and get the rest of the water out. In the case of a home with appliances or heating systems that need a water connection we suggest having a professional look at it first. That is what we are here for.

Put a Plan in Place for Your Absence

Precautions are all well and good but a backup plan is wise. Have a friend or neighbour you can rely on put in an appearance every couple of days to:

• See if the heat is on
• Walk around and hear if any water is running
• Check for dampness or stains
• Verify the faucets are still dripping
• Have our number on hand

Our Service is Always There

We at K & H Plumbing do not observe holidays any more than the La Crosse winters. Our service is available around the clock so a call is all it takes if you are in over your head with a frozen or broken pipe. We can also use professional leak detection to pinpoint trouble, and we will provide a free estimate so you know what you are dealing with.

This holiday season, before you load up the car and drive off, spare a few minutes to put your home in order. Or have us come by to inspect the plumbing and see to it you are ready to go. Call (608) 903-8814 and let K & H Plumbing, LLC put your mind at ease.