Protecting Your Home from Freezing Temperatures
Missouri winters can be brutal, and when temperatures in Butler dip below freezing, your pipes are at risk. Water expands when it freezes, causing immense pressure that can rupture copper, PVC, and PEX piping.
Essential Prevention Steps
Here is a checklist for homeowners in Butler, Rich Hill, and Drexel:
- Insulate Pipes: Add pipe sleeves or heat tape to exposed pipes in crawl spaces, attics, and garages.
- Disconnect Hoses: Remove garden hoses from outdoor spigots and install faucet covers.
- Keep Heat On: Maintain a thermostat setting of at least 55°F, even if you are out of town.
- Open Cabinet Doors: Allow warm air to circulate around plumbing under kitchen and bathroom sinks.
- Drip Faucets: During extreme cold snaps, let a trickle of water run from faucets served by exposed pipes.
What to Do if a Pipe Freezes?
If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, you may have a frozen pipe.
- Keep the faucet open.
- Apply heat to the section of pipe using a hair dryer or heating pad (NEVER use an open flame).
- Check all other faucets in your home.
- Call a Plumber: If you can't locate the freeze or if the pipe has already burst, call us immediately at 877-493-0008 to minimize damage.