Sub-zero weather can cause havoc in your home, and when you live in an apartment building your problem can quickly become your neighbor’s problem. This is especially true with pipes, that are prone to busting during the winter when proper precautions are not taken to ensure water does not freeze inside of them. The temperatures throughout Columbus have already reached single digits this winter, and more are sure to come. Here are a few things you need to do in your home to protect it from frozen pipes until the temperature finally climbs:

1. Turn your faucets on a slight trickle, or drip. Making sure water is moving through your pipes will help prevent the water from freezing, expanding and causing the pipes to burst.
2. Open up the cabinet doors below your sinks. This area can be surprisingly cold, and it will help to let the heat in your house get to the pipes.
3. Keep your thermostat at a steady temperature. If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.
4. Keep your pets inside! Just because they have fur coats, does not mean that your pets are warmer than you are.
5.  Fill your bathtub with some water to have some on hand in the event of a water main breakage nearby. Water is usually turned off in these instances, and a boil advisory is sent out.

6. Have your pipes frozen? Alert maintenance immediately. You can help thaw the pipe with a hair dryer, or a heating pad, but please don’t use an open flame. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame device. 

Of course, freezing pipes is not something that we anticipate in your apartment, but it’s always better to be precautionary. By following these simple steps, we can ensure that everyone remains comfortable throughout these Ohio winters.
Call  614.722.7318 for emergency maintenance.