Prevent Pipe Freeze

As the temperature drops in most of the nation during the winter months, it is a good idea to review a few tips to prevent household pipes from freezing. Just a couple of extra steps can save a lot of headache after a night in the deep cold.
Most of the time pipes freeze in homes because they are built into an exterior wall. I have seen many houses designed with a window above the kitchen sink. If this is the case in your home you may want to observe at least three simple steps.

1. Open any under sink cabinets to allow warm air from the kitchen to come into contact with water pipes.
2. Use a space heater to add additional warm air to the area. Please note that if using a space heater you should use one with a blowing fan and place it in an open area away from other items or cabinets. Never place it in the cabinet.
3. Run your tap water from time to time on both hot and cold settings. Two different pipes feed your sink and both need to be kept free from freeze.

Note that if you wake up to running hot water, but not cold, your cold pipe may have frozen. The hot water will continue to run as long as there is a reserve of water left in your hot water tank.
Most pipes freeze during the early morning hours when the temperature tends to be at its lowest. Also, be aware that if you go out of town for a few days, the water will sit stagnate in your pipes and may cause freezing as well. Follow these tips before going to sleep at night and they could possibly prevent a huge problem in the morning.