What Pipes Need to Be Wrapped For Winter?

With the winter weather getting underway, your plumbing is at risk of freezing. Even one below zero night is enough to freeze and burst a pipe, and that is not something you want to wake up to. However, if you wish to be proactive and wrap your pipes in order to insulate them, what pipes actually need it?

Exterior Pipes

When it starts to get cold, even if not below zero quite yet, you will want to wrap all exterior pipes. Anywhere you see exposed piping outside your home needs some insulation for the below freezing weather.

This typically means you need to address areas like water spigots. You will need to disconnect hoses and store them inside a garage or shed. If the pipe to the spigot is exposed, it will need to be specifically wrapped. If you have had issues with pipes freezing at these exterior areas or even by them, you may want to consider insulating the pipe or installing heated cable to stop freezing issues.

Attic and Crawl Space Pipes

Next, you will want to address the pipes in the attic and in your crawlspace, if applicable. While these are more protected than exterior pipes, they can still be prone to freezing. Usually, in crawl spaces, a simple addition of insulation once is enough to protect the pipe. In attics, you will want to consider at least wrapping any freestanding pipes that are not already insulated.

An additional issue with attic pipes aside from simply freezing is they can produce condensation. When the warm air in the attic meets the cool exterior air that will come in through the attic vents, it can cause condensation on exposed pipes. This can create issues like mold or water damage on your ceiling.

What About Under Sinks?

When it comes to exposed pipes under the sink by exterior walls, you can wrap them, but usually just leaving the cabinet open is enough. On below zero nights, simply open up the cabinet in these areas and the heat from your home should keep them warm enough.

-A R Engh Team