With the temperature dropping and the wind growing colder, there are certain things landlords need to be mindful of to avoid unwanted expenses. For many property owners living in colder regions, burst pipes are common and annoying. Sometimes these mishaps can cost as much as $1000 to fix. Thus, whether you’re planning to renovate your laundry room or stay warm this winter, here are a few handy tricks you can use. This article outlines the top 6 water management tips to prevent burst pipes in a rental property.
6 Water Management Tips to Prevent Burst Pipes in a Rental Property
Insulate Your Pipes ProperlyÂ
One of the best ways to prevent burst pipes is by insulating them properly. Your water lines tend to spring a leak when the water drops below a specific temperature and causes it to crack. Thus, keeping your pipes warm makes sense to avoid such an expensive problem.
As a landlord, you might understand this term as weather-proofing your house. Most property owners perform these tasks in late fall or at the beginning of winter. It usually involves wrapping your pipes in foam or fiberglass. Newspapers are also a more cost-effective alternative. Whatever item you use, ensure that it covers your lines adequately and prevents them from freezing.
Protect Unheated Areas
Instead of limiting your insulation to the pipes alone, you can extend it to the rest of the room. If you’ve had issues with burst pipes before, you might have noticed that they usually occur in damp rooms like the basement, garage, or in a crawl space. That’s because these areas are rarely as insulated as other home parts. In other words, the pipes here are more likely to freeze, even with an immediate insulation layer. Thus, it would be worth considering insulating these parts of your home to keep your pipes warm through the winter.
Keep the Tap Running
Another tip to prevent burst pipes on your rental property is to keep your taps running. Although this solution might seem like throwing money down the drain, it is often the cheaper alternative compared to the cost of a broken line. After all, wouldn’t you rather pay a few extra dollars for water than go through the stress of contracting and paying a plumber? Besides, a burst pipe would make you lose more water and increase your final bill.
On the other hand, keeping the water running can prevent your pipes from running dry and freezing. Remember that you don’t have to leave the faucet on full blast. However, if you notice a drop in water pressure, you should contact a plumber. Also, you can hire a proactive property manager that recognizes maintenance warning signs.
Maintain a Steady TemperatureÂ
During winter, most occupants often think with their thermostat to find the right temperature. However, that can create problems for you, especially during a cold spell. Instead of adjusting the temperature continuously, it would be best to maintain a constant atmosphere throughout the day. This action would place less strain on your pipes and prevent them from freezing.
Open Your CabinetsÂ
Instead of constantly fighting off cold air, you can avoid handling a burst pipe by letting the warm air in. Thus, a cost-effective and straightforward strategy you can use is to leave your cabinets open. Usually, spaces like cupboards in your kitchen and bathroom tend to be damp and cold, especially in winter. Hence, you can warm up the pipes by encouraging the circulation of warmer air. Leaving these cabinets open would increase the temperature in typically cold areas and prevent your pipes from freezing.
Seal the Drafty
Finally, seal the drafty areas in your home to prevent cold air from penetrating. Gaps and leaks in your doors and windows can create room for the temperature in your home to dip. As a result, the fall in temperature can cause your pipes to burst. That’s why home inspections are so crucial. Perform a thorough examination of your house to find spots cold air could sleep through. Window seals, door frames, and vents are often some of the most common culprits. After identifying these spots, you can insult them with warmer material or cover the spaces with caulk.
ConclusionÂ
Preventive maintenance is one of the essential duties of a landlord. Property owners would be flooded with avoidable repair bills without proper planning. However, these 6 water management tips to prevent burst pipes in a rental property can help you avoid unnecessary expenses this winter.
If you still find it challenging to implement these handy tips, you can hire a professional to help. Qualified property management companies can help you recognize common warning signs of a burst pipe. They can also help you avoid headaches, saving you more money and undue stress.
