A frozen pipe can become a messy, expensive problem. Avoid insurance claims and burst pipes by preparing your pipes for the cold. This guide will help you prevent pipe freeze before it starts in 6 steps. Don’t worry – you got this!
Your outdoor faucet will likely be the first thing to freeze. To prevent damage, shut off your outdoor water supply and allow taps to drain.
STEP 2
Insulate high-risk areas
Pipes in your crawl space, garage, attic or outside walls are at a higher risk of freezing. Insulate these pipes with foam pipe covers from Canadian Tire and keep these areas above 8°C.
STEP 3
Check for air leaks
Air leaks allow cold air into your home. In harsh cold, even a small opening can let in enough air to freeze a pipe. Use caulking or insulation to keep cold out.
STEP 4
Keep doors open
Keep closets and doors to unoccupied rooms open. This will allow warm air to circulate around plumbing.
STEP 5
Run faucets on low
In extreme cold, keep a faucet or two running at a low level to keep water movement in the pipes.
STEP 6
Shut off main water supply
If you’re going on a vacation or extended trip (we suggest somewhere warm), shut off your main water valve and open the taps to drain the water from your plumbing lines.
