Preparing Your Plumbing For Winter
Frozen pipes are a wintertime homeowner’s worst nightmare. They not only stop your water from flowing, but they also pose a significant risk of exploding if immediate action isn’t taken. Understanding what to do if your pipes freeze could save you thousands of dollars in property damage, as burst pipes can cause massive property damage. As the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” so let’s first understand what causes pipes to freeze in the winter and how to avoid it.
plumbing for winter: Why Do Pipes Freeze?
Your water pipes are especially vulnerable to freezing during the winter. Frozen pipes, on the other hand, are not a common occurrence in property ownership; the majority of us are amazed and disheartened when a frozen pipe includes our plumbing system inaccessible or, worse, bursts and causes flooding. The following are some of the factors that could make your pipes more susceptible to freezing. These elements frequently combine to create a recipe for disaster:
1- Inadequate insulation – Because insulation protects against the cold, if you don’t have enough in your walls, attic, or crawl space, your pipes are more likely to freeze.
2- Being situated in outer walls – Pipes situated in your home’s external walls are directly exposed to the elements. This situation can be exacerbated by insufficient insulation or cracks in your walls that allow cold air to enter.
3- Being inside unheated spaces – Pipes are common in your attic, crawl space, and basement, but they don’t have the benefit of your home’s heating to keep them warm. Pipes most frequently burst in unheated areas of your home.
4- Temperatures of 20°F or lower – Even though water freezes at 32°F, the water inside your pipes is much more guarded than the water outside. Temperatures must be well below zero. The majority of frozen pipes occur when the outside temperature is 20 degrees or lower.
5- Drafty areas – Winter temperatures can play a significant role in freezing your pipes. The pipes in your attic or crawl space are much more likely to freeze if they are drafty.
How to fix frozen pipes?
If you’re not a skilled do-it-yourselfer, it’s best to leave this to a pro. If you’re familiar with home maintenance, there are some quick fixes you can try. Keep the following tips in mind if you attempt to thaw the frozen pipes yourself:
1- Understand what not to do – To reheat frozen pipes, never use a blowtorch, gasoline or kerosene heaters, a charcoal stove, or any other open flame device. This poses a significant fire risk. You should also avoid using a space heater unless you are certain that the area is free of flammable materials. Never leave a space heater unattended.
2- Apply heat to the frozen section of the pipe – Wrapping an electronic heating pad around the pipe, heating the area with a hair dryer, or both can be used to accomplish this. If you don’t have either of these items, using towels soaked in hot water will suffice. Remember that this is only a temporary solution, and the heating pad should not be left unattended to avoid a fire.
3- Keep the faucet open– During the thawing process, water and steam will be produced, and your pipes will require an opening to discharge this. Keeping the faucet open allows moving water to flow through the pipe, which speeds up the thawing process.
4- If the frozen pipes are inside an exterior wall, act quickly – This is a serious situation that should be handled by a professional contractor, as repairs may entail cutting a hole in the wall toward the inside of the house in order to expose those pipes to warmer air.
5- Apply heat until the water flow returns to normal – Once the pipe has been successfully thawed, turn on other faucets in your home to check for any other frozen water pipes.
How To Prevent Pipes From Freezing?
Winter brings cold temperatures, and when temperatures drop, the water that supplies your home’s faucets and fixtures risks freezing inside your pipes. Because water is flowing as it freezes, frozen pipes are more likely to burst, causing costly water and plumbing damage throughout your home.
Here are few tips that would help you to prevent your pipes from freezing:
1- Get Your Pipes Insulated
Pipe insulation is reasonably priced and easily obtainable in home improvement retailers. Consider insulating any pipes in unheated areas like the basement, crawl spaces, or garage. Pipes beneath kitchen and bathroom sinks are also susceptible to freezing in extreme cold. To provide a buffer against freezing temperatures, liberally apply foam insulation. Wrapping your pipes in heat tape or installing thermostat-controlled heat cables can also help keep them warm enough to avoid freezing.
2- Seal Air Leaks
Examine your home for any crack formation or holes that could allow cold air in. Seal any gaps around piping in interior or exterior walls, as well as the sill sheets where your house sits on its founding. Furthermore, because leaving your garage door open is equivalent to creating a massive air leak, keep the door closed unless you’re going in or out.
3- Keep Consistent Temperature
Set your thermostat to keep the temperature consistent all day and night. In mild weather, lowering your thermostat at night or while you’re not at home can assist you in saving money on heating, but in extreme cold, maintaining a consistent temperature is critical to keeping your pipes ice-free. The few extra dollars you’ll devote on utilities will be well enough to justify the thousands of dollars you’ll save by avoiding a burst pipe.
4- Disconnect Garden Hoses
After you’ve finished gardening, disconnect, drain, and store your hoses. To drain the line, close any shut-off valves that supply outdoor hose bibs and open the faucet outside. Keep it open throughout the winter to allow any remaining water in the pipe to expand. In addition, drain any sprinkler supply lines according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
5- Open Doors and Cabinets
During cold spells, make sure warm air can circulate evenly throughout your home. Keep interior doors ajar and kitchen and bathroom cabinets open to evenly distribute heat throughout rooms. If you have small children or pets, remove any household chemicals or potentially harmful cleaners from open cabinets.
How Long Does It Take To Unfreeze Pipes?
Any of the methods for thawing frozen pipes will typically take about 30 minutes. This varies depending on the weather, the length of time the pipe has been frozen, and the location of the pipe. Any of these factors can lengthen the thawing process. And keep in mind that a frozen pipe isn’t the only problem that comes with cold weather.
Call a Certified Plumber For Frozen Pipes
Even though you can occasionally refreeze a frozen pipe on your own, it’s best to hire a professional plumber. They will arrive with specialized equipment designed to safely and efficiently thaw pipes. They will also be able to detect any damage that isn’t immediately visible. Even if a frozen pipe appears to be in good condition, it may have cracked or burst somewhere you can’t see, causing it to leak once thawed. If the pipe did not burst or leak, the ice pressure may have weakened it. You should have a certified plumber inspect any frozen pipes to ensure that they are still sound and not in danger of failing.
Take into consideration that if the pipes have burst, they may begin spewing water inside the walls as they thaw. Flooding can quickly cause significant property damage. We offer both water restoration and plumbing services, allowing us to provide one-stop service to home and business owners dealing with frozen pipes.
