December, January and February
Winter checklist for inside the house
Cold weather tests the plumbing that runs through outside walls and unheated spaces. A pipe that freezes can split and then leak as soon as it thaws. Most of the protection is simple habit on the coldest nights.
The winter list
- Open sink cabinet doors on outside walls during hard freezes so room heat reaches the pipes.
- Let a faucet on an outside wall drip slowly on the coldest nights.
- Keep the thermostat at 55°F or higher, even when nobody is home.
- Check the furnace filter every month while the heat runs daily.
- Look for new gaps in caulk around tubs and sinks as dry air shrinks wood and trim.
- Keep carbon monoxide alarms clear of curtains and furniture, and test them once a month.
- Clean the range hood filter after heavy holiday cooking.
What to look for
| Where | Warning sign | Usual next step |
|---|---|---|
| Pipe on an outside wall | Faucet flow slows to a trickle on a cold morning | Possible freeze; keep the tap open and warm the area gently |
| Indoor air | Static shocks, cracked caulk | A humidifier set no higher than about 40 percent |
| Range hood filter | Greasy, dripping | Soak in hot soapy water or replace |
If a pipe freezes
Open the faucet it feeds so melting water has somewhere to go. Warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer or a space heater kept at a safe distance, starting near the faucet and working back. Never use an open flame. If you cannot find the frozen section, or the pipe has already split, close the main shutoff and call a licensed plumber.
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