Winterize outbuilding pipes

Listen to this radio story about winterizing outbuilding pipes (MP3 download)

Since frozen water pipes can be a major inconvenience, it's a good idea to take the time to winterize outbuilding pipes before cold weather hits. The easiest way to keep your pipes from freezing is to simply cut off the water supply and drain the pipes completely. If you need to keep the water flowing throughout the winter, however, there are a few tricks you can try. Insulating outdoor pipes is a good idea, but a heat lamp is also useful if there's electricity nearby. In an emergency, leave a constant trickle of water flowing through the pipe.

Radio interview source: Shawn Shouse, ag engineering field specialist, Iowa State University Extension

For additional information, we suggest these helpful Web sites:

Winterize Outdoor Pipes: An explanation of why it's important to plan ahead in order to protect your water pipes.

Winter Home Safety Tips: General suggestions for winter storm preparedness, including steps you can take to winterize outdoor water pipes.

Fixing Leaks and Frozen Pipes: Dealing with common plumbing mishaps.