Winters in Grand Rapids are filled with opportunities for skiing, snowmobiling and other activities for enjoying the snow. However, the same cold temperatures that create snow can also wreak havoc on a home. Homeowners in the area need to take some precautions to protect their home from damage due to the low temperatures common in the area.

The biggest risk from cold temperatures is frozen water supply lines. When these lines freeze, they can burst causing water to be lost into the home. The water can then do great damage to carpets, floors, walls and other structures in the home. There are a number of things that a person can do to prevent frozen water pipes. Pipes should be run through insulated parts of the home whenever possible. For example, it is better for a pipe to run through a basement than along the outside of a foundation wall. All pipes should be covered with pipe insulation both to prevent freezing and to save energy.

A pipe that is particularly likely to freeze, such as one running through a crawl space that is not heated or insulated, should be protected by heat tape. Heat tape is a device that looks much like an extension cord, but which becomes warm when the temperature falls. Heat tape is wrapped along a pipe, covered in insulation and then plugged into an outlet. The heat tape will sense the cold temperature and begin warming when needed.

On especially cold nights, a homeowner should slightly open the faucets in his or her home and allow the water to drip rapidly. As moving water is difficult to freeze, allowing the water to flow will prevent freezing in all but the most extreme temperatures. If water does freeze, the faucets should be left wide open to allow room for the freezing water to expand which will reduce the chances of the water lines bursting.

Homeowners should not neglect the drains in the home as they too can freeze. The regular use of a drain opener will help to prevent problems with drains freezing. This is due to a partially restricted drain being more likely to freeze than one that is fully open. Allowing faucets to drip in cold weather will also help to prevent drains from freezing as water will continuously run through the drain.

There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the winter weather, but homeowners need to take these few steps to protect their home and avoid the problems associated with cold temperatures.