One of the easiest ways to protect your pipes from freezing is by adding insulation. Pipes in unheated or exposed areas, like basements, attics, garages, and crawl spaces, are especially vulnerable. Insulating them helps keep the temperature around the pipes more stable, which can prevent freezing.
- Use Pipe Insulation Sleeves: Foam or rubber insulation sleeves are affordable and easy to install around your pipes. Just slide them on, and they’ll help keep the pipes warmer.
- Add Insulation to Nearby Walls and Ceilings: If you’ve got pipes in really cold areas, adding extra insulation to the walls or ceilings can help keep the whole area warmer.
- Consider Heating Cables: Heating cables (or heat tape) can be wrapped around pipes in extremely cold areas for extra protection. These cables warm up the pipes, making freezing much less likely.
Adding insulation now is a small investment that could save you thousands in repair costs if a pipe were to burst.