When temperatures drop in Flagstaff, Arizona, the risk of your home's pipes freezing or bursting rises. Unfortunately, many homeowners don't realize that burst pipes are one of the most frequent causes of winter property damage, so they don't consider protecting their pipes from freezing until it's too late. Then, instead of asking how they can protect their pipes from freezing, they're asking what to do about frozen pipes (and wondering if frozen pipes always burst) instead.

To avoid a similar fate and learn about preventing frozen pipes in Flagstaff, Arizona, keep reading and check out the video below from Aldo, one of the experts in the plumbing and electrical department at HomCo Lumber & Hardware.

4 Ways to Prevent Your Pipes from Freezing:

Whether you're a second homeowner or going on a holiday vacation this winter, it's important (and easy) to take preventative care to avoid the costs of damage from frozen pipes. We've put together a list of the top products we recommend to keep your pipes flowing, even when temps drop below freezing:

1. Tubular Pipe Insulation

Tubular pipe insulation is one of the most straightforward solutions to prevent frozen pipes in the winter. Tubular pipe insulation comes in various sizes and takes very little time to install. The installation process is simple:

1. Split the pipe insulation wrap at the pre-cut seam
2. Wrap the foam around the pipe
3. Remove the plastic adhesive
4. Squeeze both sides of the wrap together, so they adhere to each other

2. Pipe Insulation Wraps

Pipe insulation is graded with an R-value, with higher R-values indicating more significant insulating effects. We carry a variety of pipe insulation wraps at HomCo Lumber & Hardware, including:

• Fiberglass pipe wrap:A fiberglass foam with a 1.6 R-value that wraps around your pipes, which is then covered and secured with aluminum tape to reflect heat and keep your pipes warm
• Pipe insulation wrap: A self-adhering pipe wrap that includes fiberglass and aluminum tape in one product and has a 3.3 R-value
• Insulated foam pipe wrap: Insulated foam pipe wrap has the highest R-value. The product contains insulation and aluminum tape and is self-adhering for easy installation.

3. Water Pipe Freeze Protector

Water pipe freeze protectors are a more technical solution to protect your pipes from freezing. They are controlled by a thermostat that you plug into one of your home's electrical outlets. Even if your home's furnace isn't working in the winter, the freeze protector will still work once temperatures drop to 40 degrees or lower. Though it functions differently than pipe insulation and wraps, the installation process is somewhat similar:

1. Wrap the water pipe freeze protector directly beneath and along the length of your pipes
2. Plug the protector into an electrical outlet
3. The water pipe freeze protector will then generate heat prevents water in the pipes from freezing

4. Faucet Protector

Adding faucet protectors to your outdoor hose bits is another easy way to prevent frozen pipes during winter, and installation couldn’t be easier. Inside the faucet protector is a clip that connects to your hose bit. To install the protector, you place it over the hose bit and use the string pulley to pull it tight, which will protect the hose bit from freezing outside when temperatures drop.

Prevent your pipes from freezing in Flagstaff:

Given a choice between preventing frozen pipes in the house or thawing frozen pipes that were unprotected, we’d choose prevention every time. Though prevention requires a small investment and a bit of your time now, it can help you avoid more considerable costs and problems later.

Before winter weather can wreak havoc on your plumbing this winter, stop by HomCo Lumber & Hardware to get the products, help, and advice you need from Arlo and the rest of the experts in our plumbing department. Shop pipe insulation solutions at HomCo!