Scared of your pipes freezing? Follow the 'pencil-thin' rule for winter storms

With a huge storm sweeping across the US, there's lots of things you're probably thinking about when it comes to keeping your home protected from the cold. And one thing you'll want to make sure you're preventing is your pipes freezing over, because when there's cold weather, the risk of this happening becomes a lot higher.

A quick way to prevent this is by leaving your taps dripping, but while a lot of people swear by this method, there's definitely a right and wrong way of doing it. Here's everything you need to know about incorporating the 'pencil-thin' rule into your home to protect your pipes against the harsh winter weather.

The 'pencil-thin' rule

Which faucets should I drip?

When it's cold, your pipes can freeze and then they can burst, causing all sorts of problems that can end up being pretty costly. So, homeowners follow the 'pencil-thin' rule which means leaving your taps running at a steady pace, but keeping the stream as thin as a pencil lead.

So, while you might've seen the suggestion you leave your faucets dripping, when it comes to very cold weather you need to do a little more than that, but not too much. By running water through your pipes, it becomes a lot harder for it to freeze and while a drip is fine in cold temperatures, the 'pencil-thin' rule is better for extreme weather.

But, should you be running hot or cold water? The answer to that is it should be a mix. If you've got two separate taps for hot and cold, run a little water from each one. If you've got a single tap, run it from the middle, keeping it at a nice warm temperature.

While your interior faucets are more likely to be protected by your home, you should turn your attention to using the 'pencil-thin' rule on any exterior faucets or ones that are less used.

For example, focus on faucets on your exterior walls, faucets in an unheated garage, or in spaces you don't tend to go so much around your home like in your garden or in the crawl spaces under your home.

Find our where your main water shut-off valve is located in your home and run the faucets located furthest away from it. Why? Because it'll run water through your entire system to reach those faucets, meaning you're preventing your pipes from freezing and bursting across your home.

Why it works

As briefly explained, the way the 'pencil-thin' rule works is that by running water through your pipes, you're creating a constant movement that makes it a lot harder for the water to freeze inside your pipes.

If you leave it to sit, that's when the stagnant water can turn into ice, which freezes your pipes and creates a pressure that can cause them to burst.

And while your interior pipes are protected by the heating and insulation in your home, it's less likely those outside pipes or those in unheated areas will feel the same warmth. Running your water to them also makes it travel along pipe system inside your home, so it's a win-win.

While a drip isn't quite enough of a flow to keep the water moving, a steady, thin stream is far more effective. Too much water though and it's a waste. Of course, for it to be most effective, make sure your drains are clear to avoid any flooding in and around your home. Follow these rules and you'll help your pipes survive the cold.

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