Definitely agree on checking vents—it's often overlooked. Another thing I'd suggest is installing heat tape on any exposed pipes, especially those near outer walls or in crawlspaces. I've found it works wonders as a backup when insulation isn't enough. Also, it's worth leaving cabinet doors open under sinks during extreme cold snaps to let warm air circulate better... small trick, but saved me more than once from late-night plumbing adventures.
"it's worth leaving cabinet doors open under sinks during extreme cold snaps to let warm air circulate better..."
Wish I'd known this trick sooner! Last winter, I woke up at 3 AM to a waterfall under my kitchen sink—talk about panic mode. Definitely gonna give heat tape a try too, sounds like a lifesaver.
Heat tape can definitely help, but just a heads-up from experience—it's not foolproof. A couple winters back, I had heat tape installed and felt pretty confident...until the power went out during a nasty ice storm. No electricity meant no heat tape, and yep, pipes froze solid. Now I always keep a trickle of water running overnight during extreme cold snaps. Might seem wasteful, but trust me, it's cheaper than emergency plumbing at 2 AM.
Heat tape's decent, but yeah, it's definitely not bulletproof. Had a similar thing happen last winter—power outage hit, and even my backup generator didn't kick in right away. Learned the hard way to always have a backup plan for the backup plan...
Heat tape's alright for mild stuff, but yeah, when things get serious, it's pretty hit or miss. Had a similar situation a couple years back—generator kicked in fine, but the fuel line froze up. Go figure. Seems like no matter how prepared you think you are, winter always finds a weak spot somewhere... Hang in there, though; at least now you've got another lesson under your belt.
