J.J. Fishbein, Inc.
21 North Main Street
Wallingford, CT 06492
(203)265-9474
(800)750-8242
Prevent Frozen Pipes  
If you think turning the heat down in your home while you're away on vacation will save you a few dollars, think again. If your home's pipes should freeze and burst, it could end up costing thousands of dollars to repair floors and replace furniture and keepsakes. The damage could be so severe that you and your family would have to relocate while repairs are made.
By taking a few simple precautions, you can save yourself a ton of aggravation.
   
Here are a few simple steps to protect your home or apartment:
 

To prevent freezing:

  • Leave a cold water tap running slowly, at a level just above a drip.
  • Leave interior cupboard doors under sinks open, especially if the sink piping is adjacent to an exterior wall.
  • Shut off and drain pipes leading to outside faucets
  • Do not turn the furnace below 12°C (55°F) during absences or at night.
  • Seal any leaks that allow cold air inside where pipes are located.
  • Locate and insulate pipes most susceptible to freezing: near outside walls, in crawl spaces, and in attics. Many hardware stores carry foam pipe insulation for this purpose.
  • If you plan to be away, have someone check your house daily to make sure the heat is on and no problems occur. Alternatively, shut off and drain the water system (except fire sprinkler systems).
To thaw frozen pipes:
 
  • Locate the suspected frozen area of the water pipe (commonly adjacent to exterior walls, or where your water service enters your home through the foundation).
  • Leave a cold water tap downstream of that location open, so you know that the pipe has thawed when the water begins flowing again.
    Apply heat to the suspected section of pipe with one of the following methods:
    • an electric heating pad, wrapped around the pipe.
    • an electric hair dryer .
    • a portable heater (be sure it is not placed too close to any flammable materials).

Note: the use of any open flame in the home or any confined space is not recommended, due to the fire hazard and risk from combustion fumes. If you are unable to locate the frozen section of pipe, or are unsure of what to do, contact a licensed plumber.

When the weather warms up:
Check unused portions of your water system for freezing damage and leaks to avoid possible flooding damage from undetected split pipes.

Prevent Ice Dams
A lot of homeowners don't know what ice dams are -- until it's too late. Ice dams are most common in northern climates. They occur when heavy snow buildup melts during the day and then refreezes when temperatures drop overnight.
 
After several days of melting-freezing cycles, it's common for the melted water and ice to work up under the shingles until water enters the attic and eventually does damage to the ceilings, wall and contents. In cases where the ice dam goes unnoticed for an extended period of time, it can do significant damage to the building and its contents.
There's no way to guarantee an ice dam won't damage your home, but you can take steps to cut the chances of an ice dam forming in the first place:
  • If you haven't already, thoroughly clean all leaves, sticks and other debris from your home's gutters and down spouts. This lets melting roof snow flow into gutters and through down spouts, just as they were designed.
  • Make every effort to keep snow on your roof to a minimum. Long-handled devices on the market called "roof rakes" let you stand on the ground and pull the snow off the roof. Keeping heavy snow loads off your roof reduces the chances for both ice dam formation and roof failure due to the weight.
  • All winter long, keep gutters and down spouts clear of snow and icicles.
  • Evaluate the insulation and ventilation in your attic. Most experts agree the R-value of attic insulation should be at least R-30 (R-38 is preferable in northern climates). In addition, good airflow from under the eaves or soffit area along the underside of the roof and out through the roof vents is essential to a cool, dry attic. Consult a reputable roofing and/or insulation contractor about these improvements.

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