Heat tape or a built-in heating element helps protect against freezing, but misuse can cause pipe damage. Choose self-regulating heat tape or a hose heater that adjusts to outside temperature changes.

If you have a house that isn’t used in the winter or a home that has pipes running through an unheated area, such as a crawl space or attic, and the temperatures drop below freezing, you may want to ...

After 10 years in print journalism, Nick transitioned to the home improvement space. He has specialized in maintenance, mortgages, home warranties, moving, car shipping, home security and more for 7 ...