The Portland Metro area is about to get its first blast of winter weather. Winter storms can mean freezing weather. Freezing weather can lead to frozen pipes. Here are some helpful tips to keep your pipes warm and your home dry this winter.

The best defense is a good offense. Combat freezing temperatures by prepping your home beforehand.

• Wrap all pipes in unheated areas such as the crawl space, attic, garage or basement to help protect them from freezing with insulating tape or molded pipe sleeves. Cover valves and pipe-fittings can be wrapped with insulating tape or fiberglass insulation.

Going out of town for a while? Consider the following to avoid coming home to pipe freezing mayhem.

• Shut off and drain your water.
  • Turn off the water heater before draining the system.
  • Pour anti-freeze solutions approved for RV use into drain traps.
  • Turn off the main water shut-off valve, then go through the house and turn on all faucets, sinks, tubs, showers, and flush the toilets.
• Set your thermostat to at least 55 degrees.  Don’t turn the heat off completely!

If your pipes do happen to freeze… 

• If you know where the lines are frozen, carefully attempt to thaw them with a hair dryer set on low heat.  Move the dryer back and forth along the frozen area.  Do not leave the pipes unattended.
• No sure if you’re home plumbing is frozen or if the problem is outside the house? Check the other faucets in the house. Often when home plumbing is frozen water is available at another household faucet. If no the other household faucets work then the problem may be between the house and the meter, or at the meter or in the street.  Call us at 503-722-9220. We can help!

If the unthinkable happens and your pipes do break…

• Don’t panic.
• Shut off the water and turn off your water heater.
• If you need help finding the shut-off valve or have water leaking in the house from a broken pipe we can help point you in the right direction. Call us at 503-722-9220.
• To repair the broken pipe you will most likely need to call a plumber.