Video: Protecting Your Water Pipes When Temperatures Drop

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NORTHEAST, Miss. (WCBI)- Houston native Renee Collins is taking extra precautions this winter.

“I came out here to buy faucet covers on the outside because of the cold weather coming in. We’ve had some faucets to bust and stuff and then we had to call the plummer to get that fixed,” said Collins.

With temperatures expected to dip into the single digits, pipes can burst. That’s because water expands when it freezes. Frank Thomas, Vice President of Nabors Home Center in Houston says pipes in attics, crawl spaces and outside walls are left vulnerable because of the cold.

“You’re going to get some frozen pipes if you don’t take preventative measures. Pipe insulation on your pipes that are exposed and your homes that have the conventional floors on the pipes that are exposed they need to already be wrapped,” said Thomas.

Letting a faucet drip during extreme cold weather can prevent a pipe from bursting. Don’t forget to wrap your faucets as well.

“We have little caps, I call them winter caps on the outside faucets there that protect them and keep them from freezing because if that freezes, it’s going to cause major problems, especially on a house that’s on a concrete slab,” said Thomas.

There are even a few simple steps you can take indoors to further protect your home.

“Leave the doors open up and underneath the kitchen sink or the vanity where the heat can get under there. Make sure your water supply lines don’t freeze on you,” said Thomas.

And if your pipes do freeze, avoid putting heat on them right away.

“If they’re not covered and they do freeze, a lot of times people want to get out there and put the heat right to it, like a flame of some kind. But that could cause it to bust if it unthaws too quickly. If you can wait, just wait until the temperatures warm up and then they’ll thaw out themselves,” said Thomas.

Renee says she hopes other residents prepare early before the arctic chill sweeps into the area.

“We all think things are going to be all right but it’s better to take the precautions,” said Collins.

Pipe insulators are fairly cheap, it costs $1-$10 depending on the size and can be found at any hardware store.