Here in the Pacific Northwest we generally get our first frost right around the 15th of October every year. This year things are running a little behind schedule and we just got our first frost on October 29th, which is great if you are a little behind on winterizing your home. According to the U.S. National Weather Service we should expect freezing temps off and on for the remainder of the year. They advise everyone to “…consider disconnecting outdoor hoses … and take any other precautions necessary against the cold.”
Frozen Pipes
” …consider disconnecting outdoor hoses … and take any other precautions necessary against the cold.” Isn’t this a bit extreme? Do people really need to disconnect their hoses? Yes, people really do need to disconnect their hoses. The reason for this is because when water freezes it expands. If water frozen in a pipe or hose expands enough the pipe or hose will burst and water will escape and can cause serious damage to your plumbing. The cheapest and easiest way to avoid this is to disconnect your hoses, store them out of the cold, and install hose bib covers over your exterior faucets. Lowe’s sells the covers for $1.98 each.
Hose Bib covers cost $1.98 at Lowe’s. Quite possibly the cheapest fix for preventing frozen pipes.
The Institute for Business and Home Safety is a great resource to turn to for all types of disaster prevention and safety information. The infographic below depicts various ways to prevent frozen pipes when winterizing your outside.
Image courtesy of: Institute for Business and Home Safety
Fortunately for us Portlanders it rarely gets cold enough (around 20*) for a long enough period of time for frost to really pose a threat to our pipes that are located inside of building insulation. However, pipes that are located outside of building insulation (think attics, crawlspaces, unfinished basements, and outside walls) are all more susceptible to freezing when the mercury dips below 32*.
Don’t worry though, there is still plenty of time to get out there and remove your hoses, cover the bibs, and move your tender plants inside. The forecast is calling for mild (wet) weather this week!
Need more information on winterizing your home? Check out our tips on windows.
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