How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

Sara — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 21:38:50 +0000

Freezing pipes can be a big problem in Canada and many parts of the US. When water freezes, the molecules expand. Frozen water inside pipes can cause pipes to expand, stressing the pipes and joints. Water pressure buildup between ice in the pipes and the faucet or valve can lead to a burst. Even if caught quickly, a burst pipe can cause significant damage to your home. Left unnoticed, such as when no one is home, the damage to your home and belongings can be massive.

Consider these steps and learn how to prevent frozen pipes.

Before cold weather hits:

– Insulate outdoor pipes or pipes in unheated areas.

– Drain water lines for pools and sprinklers. Consider using a service for “winter shutdown” of sprinklers or pools.

– Disconnect hoses and cover outside spigots with foam covers. If possible, turn off water lines for outside spigots.

During cold weather months:

– Keep interior temperature set at 55 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Keep doors open inside your home to allow heat to circulate. Also attend to drafts, sealing off cold air from outside.

– Open cabinet doors near sinks to allow warm air to reach plumbing.

– Turn on faucets to a slow trickle. A lake freezes before a river; flowing water helps prevent freezing.

If you have a frozen pipe:

– If no water comes out of the faucet or flow is reduced to a trickle, the pipe may be frozen, but not yet burst. Thaw the pipe with a hair dryer or space heater, moving heat over the length of the pipe. After the pipe is thawed, address drafts or similar conditions that can cause freezing to prevent the pipe from freezing again.

– You can also use hot towels or a heating pad to thaw pipes, but do not leave heaters or heating pads unattended or positioned near anything flammable.

– If a pipe bursts or is leaking, turn off the water supply to the pipe and work quickly to address small spills. The pipe will need repair. For larger amounts of water, you may need to contact your insurer about damage to your home or belongings. However, in many cases, this step is not needed and spills can be mopped up without professional remediation.

This content is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing, financial, medical or legal advice. You should contact your attorney, doctor, broker or advisor to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem.

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You may have heard stories about rodent, bee, ant or termite infestations, or water seeping through windows, cracks, or leaky roofs. But did you know that homeowners have been denied claims for the cost of repairing the damage or removing the pests? That can happen if the entry route for the water or pests wasn’t caused by a storm, vandalism, fire or another covered cause of loss.

Most home insurance policies exclude damage due to water and pest intrusions if they were caused by a lack of maintenance. But you can take some fairly inexpensive steps to prevent these losses.

Establish an exterior maintenance routine

If you maintain your exterior three times a year, you will have a lower chance of damage not covered by insurance.

Spring maintenance

Your home has many entry points that pests and critters can exploit to gain entry. Spring is a great time to repair any damage that has developed over the winter. Check:

Door seals, screens and gutters for displacement
Pipe or wiring holes for separated or cracked seals
Gable vents to ensure flaps open and close properly
Roof tiles or shingles to make sure all are intact
Your crawl space for moisture or cracks

If you have a chimney, late spring is also a good time to close the flue and vent to the outside of the home. Vacuuming out the fireplace also deprives critters of a cozy nesting and breeding spot.

Summer maintenance

In the summer, look around your foundation for tunnels, hills and nests. Get rid of them before insects and burrowing rodents do any damage. You may need to call an exterminator or specialist if you find termite tunnels or bees. Make sure your vent screens are intact, and your soffits don’t have large enough holes for bats or birds.

Fall maintenance

In the fall:

Check your roof to make sure summer storms or falling branches haven’t poked any holes.
Clean your gutters. Buildup helps moisture wick into roof sheathing and provides a home to pests.
Turn off and drain your spigots. In very cold areas, water left in spigots can freeze and cause burst pipes.
Make sure there are no gaps where pipes enter the wall.
Remove any summer overgrowth up against the house, especially if it has climbed up under the siding.
Check siding and rooflines for gaps of half an inch or more. Bats love to nest over the winter in attics, basements and crawl spaces.

Remember your garage

It’s easy to ignore a puddle in the garage or animal droppingshttps://www.dap.ca/resources-support/how-to-s-tips/pest-control/how-to-bug-pest-proof-your-home/?utm_source=chatgpt.com in the corner. But a well-sealed and dry garage can effectively defend the rest of your home from water and pests. Deteriorating seals around garage doors, clogged gutters and downspouts, and cracks in garage flooring are some of the primary ways pests and water invade. Correcting these problems will substantially reduce the chance of water seeping in and damaging contents.

Additional tips for preventing infestations

EasyOpenDoor.com suggests three simple methods to prevent infestations:

Inspect your property for anthills. If you find any, leave bait nearby to eliminate them.
Remove any food storage, food waste or grill grates with burnt-on food from your garage.
Replace cardboard boxes. These can become a home to termites, roaches and other critters.

With these simple actions, you can prevent a lot of expense and headaches. Your home insurance is there for disasters, but maintenance is your responsibility. A combination of the two can protect your home for years to come.

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