A lot of things can go wrong during winter around your house. The problem is that most of them are particularly harder to fix during this period, the solution being to prevent your house from going through all that trouble. The winter weather can cause your pipes to either freeze or burst. Fixing either of these will inconvenience and cost you a lot. Here are a few tips to prevent your pipes from freezing or bursting during winter.

Insulate all your pipes
Insulate all your pipes that are exposed the most to the outside elements, these are the pipes that are outside, in the attic, and the basement. Pipe insulation should be available at your local hardware store. For added protection you can add heat tape between the pipes and the insulation material. Remember to insulate even the pipes that are found in the interior of the walls.

Let your faucets drip
Another effective tip includes you wasting some water, well just a little. Turn on the faucet very slowly until there is a slight drip. It might not seem like much but it will keep your pipes from freezing because of the continued motion by the flowing water.

Keep a constant temperature in your house
Drastic changes in temperature will certainly burst your pipes because of the contraction and expansion the pipes experience. Even if you are leaving your house for a couple of days, set the thermostat at 50 – 70 degrees. This might give you a larger power bill but it will save you a lot of money you could have wasted on repair.

Check for leaks
Ensure none of your pipes are leaking, especially those found on the outside. Cold air coming into your pipes or frozen water droplets can be hazardous to your pipes. Use either a sealant or caulk to plug all your leaks. All these products can be found easily in convenience stores or online.

Disconnect water hoses
Water hoses that are left connected can not only damage your exterior pipes but your interior pipes. Frozen water in the hose will cause water in the pipes connected to the faucet to freeze as well, if they are made of PVC they are bound to burst.

Maintenance is the key to preventing all these issues with you piping. Remember to check all your plumbing a couple of times a week, and use some of these tips to keep your pipes from freezing or bursting.