How to Prepare Your Water Pipes for Winter

Old Man Winter is on his way. That means that water pipes that aren't properly prepared or protected from the cold may freeze and bust. Simple preparation can save you from the hassle that often comes with exposed pipes.

Before winter, prepare any outdoor faucets. Being open to the elements makes them vulnerable during the winter months. Since they often freeze easily, it's important to drain them of any water before the cold weather hits. First, shut off the water to the outdoor faucet at the shutoff valve. Then, after detaching your water hose from the exterior faucet, turn the faucet on to allow any remaining water in the line to drain. Inside the house, open the bleeder cap. This round brass cap is located on the side of the valve of the main water supply. Turn the bleeder cap slightly counterclockwise using an adjustable wrench. Leave it open for a few seconds to let air into the pipes. This helps force any trapped water from the pipes. Be sure to return the cap.

After all the water has drained outdoors, shut the faucet off (turning it clockwise).

It's also important to prepare any exposed interior pipes before the cold of winter arrives. These pipes, usually found in an unfinished basement, are prone to freezing if not properly insulated. Find out the diameter of your pipes before you take the trip to the hardware store (residential pipes are normally ½ inch or ¾ inch).

There are plenty of materials on the market used for insulating pipes. However, I've always found the foam insulation tubes to be the most efficient and easiest to install. Insulation tubes come in all diameters and lengths, and are cut down the center so they are easy to install around the pipe. After placing the tube around the pipe, peel off the tape found on both edges of the tube and squeeze the two sides of the tube together, creating a solid piece. If you need to use two pieces of tubing for one pipe, use a utility knife to cut the length of tubing that you need. Then wrap the pieces together where they meet with duct tape.

Dealing with frozen and/or busted pipes is a mess, and may often need to be fixed by a professional plumber. Taking time for these simple preparations before winter hits can save you plenty of time, heartache and hard-earned cash.