“If you live in a place that experiences harsh winters,” says Rudin, “then thermally insulating your exposed pipes will go a long way in preventing a rupture.” When water freezes, it expands, and when this happens inside pipes, the result can be massive amounts of water damage.”
To prevent ruptures, Rudin advises wrapping pipes with thermal insulation to keep them as warm as possible. On particularly cold nights, keep water flowing inside the pipes (and thus less likely to freeze) by leaving one or two faucets in the house open to drip. If you go on vacation, shut off the main water valve. That way, if a pipe bursts, it won’t cause a flood.