How to Protect Your Pipes

If rerouting the vulnerable pipes and insulating the area is out of the question here are some alternatives to migitate the problem of frozen and busting pipes:

Allow faucets to drip water during times of extreme cold.
Leaving cabinet doors open to heat the area close to the pipes is always a good idea.
Close crawl space vents during the winter.
Install foam pipe insulation.
Install electric pipe heater strips.
Caulk and insulate holes and openings in exterior basement and crawlspace walls.

Install Foam Pipe Insulation

Tools Needed:

Foam insulation strips or wrapping (or both)
Utility knife
Duct tape
Flashlight
Measuring tape

Pipe insulation is, fortunately, not hard to install and not particularly expensive. Foam pipe insulation can be purchased by the foot at a plumbing supply company, hardware store or home improvement stores.

Measure the length of both hot and cold water pipes and purchase enough foam pipe insulation strips or wrapping to completely cover them. The thicker the insulation the more protection it will give. You’ll also need to cover the pipes from the place they enter the house from the source and don’t forget about the joints and cut off valve areas. Foam pipe insulation usually comes with a slit along one side so it is easy to cut to length and install. The wrapping style of insulation may be more cumbersome to apply but will work better around the joints and angles of the plumbing. A combination of the two styles is probably the perfect way to go. Outside faucet covers can be also be purchased to protect those vulnerable faucets.

Caulk and seal Cracks and holes in outside walls, in foundations, and around basement and crawlspace doors to keep cold drafts away from the pipes. This will also keep your floors warmer so it’s well worth the effort.
Open cabinet doors to allow the inside air to warm the pipes under sinks and adjacent outside walls and floors.
Electric heating tapes and cables can be run along the pipes to keep water from freezing. Be sure the product conforms to UL 2049. Products that come with a built in thermostat may be better since they automatically turn on when the temperatures dip. A heating cable or tape without a thermostat will need to be plugged in each time it is needed and may be forgotten or too inconvenient.

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