Freezing Pipes in Chicagoland.

Here are some tips to keep your home and business plumbing in good working order this winter.

•  As temperatures reach freezing and dip far below it, be sure to close all air vents and other openings in the crawl space under your house.  Doing this will prevent heat from escaping as much as possible.

•  During freezing weather, never set your thermostat below 55 degrees.  Below that temperature your pipes are at risk for the probability of freezing.

•  Insulate pipes that are prone to freezing, such as those near an outside wall, in unheated areas, especially if they are exposed, such as outside spigots.  In an emergency, several layers of newspapers or rags can be used for temporary insulation.

•  Keep the cover to your water meter box tightened to prevent the meter from freezing during cold periods.

•  Don’t forget to let a trickle of water run through your faucets to prevent freezing..

If Your Pipes Freeze:

•  It is ill-advised to use a hair dryer, heat lamp or light bulb to thaw the frozen pipe yourself.  Too much heat in one spot can burst the pipe and it is difficult to evenly distribute the heat over a large area of the pipe.  You are not a licensed plumber, don’t try to become one this winter.  Call AquaTech Plumbing, serving the Fox Valley and western Chicagoland with any plumbing task any time.   If you live in Naperville, Lisle, Plainfield, Aurora, Geneva, Batavia, St. Charles, Wheaton, Winfield, Warrenville, or Glen Ellyn, give AquaTech Plumbing a call today at 630-416-3555, 630-898-3444, 630-377-9555, or 630-462-3555.

Steps to take to keep your pipes from freezing.

The following are a few helpful tips from AquaTech Plumbing to keep your home free from the disaster of freezing pipes this winter:

•          As temperatures reach freezing and dip far below it, be sure to close all air vents and other openings in the crawl space under your house. This will prevent heat from escaping as much as possible.

•          In freezing weather, never set your home's thermostat below 55 degrees. Below that temperature your pipes are at risk of freezing.  Don’t try to be an environmental hero and save a few bucks on your energy bill.

•          Insulate pipes that are prone to freezing, such as those near an outside wall, in unheated areas of your home, or if they are exposed, such as outside spigots. In an emergency, several layers of newspapers or rags can be used for temporary insulation.  However, seek professional help in winterizing your pipes if you are not capable of doing the work.

•          Keep the cover to your water meter box securely in place to prevent the meter from freezing during cold periods.

•          Here is a tip we can all do in extremely cold weather, leave cabinet doors under sinks open to keep warm air circulating.

Especially for the elderly some of these precautionary efforts may be difficult this winter.  If and when winter problems occur, call AquaTech Plumbing any time 24/7 serving Naperville, Lisle, Plainfield, Aurora, Geneva, Batavia, St. Charles, Wheaton, Winfield, Warrenville, or Glen Ellyn, at 630-416-3555, 630-898-3444, 630-377-9555, or 630-462-3555.

Winter Plumbing Tips for Chicagoland.

Old man winter…here he comes.  If he is as rough and tough as he was last year then Chicagoland is in for potential plumbing problems again.  The first order of business is to avoid frozen pipes.  Watch your water pressure and at the first sign of restricted water flow call a professional immediately.  Also let cold water trickle from your faucets at about a pencil’s width.

Disconnect garden hoses and drain all of your outdoor pipes to battle winter damage due to a hard freeze.  The next step is to install an insulated faucet jacket.  Also, be sure to utilize the shut off valves inside of your home to drain the water from pipes that lead outdoors.  Another thing, keep the temperature in your home high enough so that you are circulating warm air to help your pipes stay warm.

Even precautionary efforts may not be enough to completely protect you from plumbing problems this winter.  If and when those occur, Call AquaTech Plumbing any time 24/7, serving Naperville, Lisle, Plainfield, Aurora, Geneva, Batavia, St. Charles, Wheaton, Winfield, Warrenville, or Glen Ellyn, at 630-416-3555, 630-898-3444, 630-377-9555, or 630-462-3555.