Easy ways to keep your water pipes from freezing.
One style is a tape. The tape is wrapped around the pipe in a spiral pattern. You can wrap this tape around the pipe with space between each wrap or you can completely cover the pipe with tape. The colder your winters the less space you want to leave between each wrap.
Some of these tapes also come with a very low watt electrical current that runs through the tape. If this is the case, you will have to find a place to attach the small electrical box that comes with the set. These are usually attached with a couple of simple set screws. Then you can plug this box into a regular electrical outlet. A few of these kits may require you to hard wire the box into an electrical circuit. If this is the case, and you are not a skilled electrician, you will be better served by hiring a professional electrician. As always keep the box away from any possible source of water. However, these wattages are so low that they represent hardly any danger.
The other style is a foam tube. The first thing you need to do is measure the diameter of the pipe you want to cover. Then you want to measure the length of the pipes you want to cover. Then it is off to the hardware store. These foam tubes come bundled together in certain lengths and diameters and are labeled as insulation. Buy the length you need. Find the foam tube that matches your pipe's diameter. Bring all this home.
You won't need many tools to apply the foam tube. A pair of scissors and maybe some duct tape will be enough. The foam tubes come with a crease that runs the length of the tube. Cut the tube along that crease. Open the crease and slide it over the pipe. Your pipe is now insulated. However, you can make it even better. Take the tape and run it length wise over the slot you cut in the tube. This completely seals the pipe. Some foam tubes also come with a tape pre-affixed along the length of the tube. So, when you cut the crease make certain to cut the crease on the side away from the tape. Apply the tube to the pipe and then press the attached tape onto the other side of the crease and your tube insulation is attached.
Unless you live in extremely cold weather all you need do is insulate your cold weather pipes. If you do live in Nordic weather you should insulate your hot water pipes too. If you have pipes that run outside the house they most certainly need to be insulated. These outside pipes may need another step. Once the piece is insulated with one of the above methods you may want to take a fiberglass wall insulation and cover the outside pipe with it. Depending on the location of these outdoor pipes you can either attach the insulation over the pipe with some tacks or staples or you may wrap the pipes with the insulation. Wrapped insulation can be held in place with duct tape.
The next part of the pipe that is susceptible to freezing is the outside faucet used for your hose. Most pipes leading to an outside faucet have a shut off valve. Before the weather begins to freeze close this valve so no water can reach the faucet. Then go outside, turn on the faucet and drain all the water from the faucet and the pipe. You can take an extra step and wrap the faucet with some insulation. You may also buy a small faucet insulation bag that you simply pull over the faucet and tie it tightly with a string or wrap with some tape.
If outside faucet freezing is a continuing problem for you then it may be worth it to install a freeze resistant faucet. Basically these faucets have a very long stem that holds the water away from the faucet handle farther inside the house. If you are not an experienced plumber you should find one to do this task.
Turn up the furnace, hunker under the blankets, and rest easily knowing that your pipes won't burst tonight.
