9 Ways to Protect Your Plumbing in Winter (plus 8 frequently asked questions about frozen pipes)

1. open your kitchen and bathroom cabinets that have pipes – the warm air from the room will help keep pipes from freezing (Caution: if you have children or pets – REMOVE any dangerous items and place them out of reach)
2. disconnect garden hoses from all outdoor spigots
3. protect outside spigots by closing the cut-off valve and draining the faucet, cover faucet with foam insulation if there is no cut-off valve
4. drain water from lines that are prone to freezing – like supply lines to swimming pools and sprinklers
5. insulate vulnerable areas – such as attics, basements, and crawlspaces
6. insulate around crawl space doors and close vents
7. garage doors should be kept closed
8. don’t let thermostat get below 55 degrees Fahrenheit
9. open faucets to allow a trickle of running water on the coldest nights- moving water takes longer to freeze than standing water

Note: Insulation slows the transfer of heat, but it doesn’t prevent pipes from freezing.