How to prevent frozen pipes during extreme cold

With the extreme cold weather gripping northern Illinois, homeowners need to be aware of the possibility of pipes freezing.

The University of Illinois Extension’s Disaster Relief Resources offers this information on how to prevent that from happening and what to do if your pipes do freeze.

Water pipes

Frozen water pipes aren’t life-threatening; however, frozen or broken water pipes do cause damage to homes each winter.

If pipes in the walls aren’t properly insulated, they can freeze and rupture. An eighth-of-an-inch crack in a pipe can release up to 250 gallons of water a day, soaking floors, rugs and furniture, the Extension services said.

To prevent the mess and aggravation frozen pipes cause, protect your home or apartment by following the simple steps below.

Before cold weather