Winter has already fired its opening volley in Arkansas, and it’s time to be sure your pipes don’t become victims of winter’s icy grasp, says Trish Ouei, extension stormwater educator for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
“Frozen water pipes can be extremely expensive to repair, and the damage can be extensive – such as replacing floors, carpeting, etc., after pipes have burst and flooding has occurred,” she said. “Take steps now to prevent these problems.”
Ouei offers a checklist of actions to take to prevent frozen pipe issues:
- To help prevent pipes from freezing this winter, it’s important to unhook and drain your outside hoses; store the drained hoses in a shed or garage.
- Then check around the outside hose spigot for any cracks or air leaks. Be sure to seal any cracks that are found.
- Cover outside plumbing fixtures.
“You can purchase covers, or consider making your own from a butter tub,” she said. “After a quick Internet search, I found most outdoor faucet covers to be about $3 to $5.”
Ouei said you can make your own cover by following these instructions.
Winter also means holiday vacations.
"If you are going to be away from your home, be sure to set the heat no lower than 55 degrees,” she said. “And remember to open the cabinet doors under bathroom and kitchen sinks to allow heat to reach the pipes easier.
“These few steps can help prevent frozen pipes and potentially save you lots of money and headaches,” Ouei said.
