Winter is coming, and with it comes freezing temperatures. One of the most difficult things to do during winter is keeping pipes from freezing. There are many ways you can prevent frozen pipes in your home or office building, but knowing which ones work best for you depends on how much time and money you want to spend. Below are some tips that will help keep your pipes from going ice cold this December and beyond!
How Much Damage Can Frozen Pipes Cause?
Did you know that a seemingly small (such as a 1/8-inch crack), can actually release 250 gallons of water per day! Flooding from pipe bursts can lead to damage to your belongings, costly structural damage, and mold. All homeowners should take precautions to prevent frozen pipes and the subsequent damage they can cause.
Temporary Tricks to Avoid Frozen Pipes
Even if you can’t change the weather, you may still safeguard your pipes from freeze damage. Even as temperatures drop, a few simple precautions will keep your pipes above freezing and intact.
Drip Your Faucets
One of the easiest and most effective ways to avoid frozen pipes is by dripping your faucets. The drip creates a steady stream of water that will keep them from freezing, even if it’s below zero outside! If the weatherman predicts that it’ll be extremely chilly, just open the hot and cold faucets in your house a little. A slow, constant drip will keep the pipes warm and reduce pressure.
Protect Outdoor Faucets
Another way to prevent your pipes from freezing is to make sure you close and drain all of your outdoor faucets. Disconnect any water hoses in preparation for the cold weather. Use faucet covers to keep the taps insulated and also protected from snow and falling ice.
Open Cabinet Doors
Preventing frozen pipes can be as simple as leaving cabinet doors ajar. Exposed water pipes under your bathroom or kitchen sink can be prone to freezing, especially if on your exterior walls. Consider opening your cabinet doors to reduce cold air and instead allow warm air to reach the pipes.
Keep the Furnace on Low
If you are planning to go out of town to visit family or go on vacation, make sure you program your furnace to run even while away from home. If you turn off your heating source, you may return to freezing pipes.
Remember, never leave a portable space heater running while you are away from home as this can be a fire hazard.
Open Your Air Vents
Make sure the air vents are open so that warm air may flow throughout the house. Blocking vents can cause rooms to get exceptionally cold and even cause a frozen pipe.
Permanent Way to Protect Your Pipes
Temporary solutions are useful, but long-term solutions, while more costly, provide greater security and will keep your pipes from freezing for many years to come.
Insulate Your Crawl Spaces
Crawl spaces may have exposed pipes and ducts. Pipe insulation in this area is a good way to prevent frozen pipes.
Replace Standard Outdoor Faucets
If your home was built before 1985, it likely has standard outdoor faucets that are not equipped to handle freezing temperatures. Outdoor faucet covers can only do so much in extremely cold weather. Consider replacing your old faucets with new ones that have freeze-proof valves.
Reroute the Pipes
If you have experienced frozen pipes in the past, it may be time to reroute your piping. Rerouting your piping will help prevent the water from freezing by bringing the pipes closer to the warmth of your home.
Insulate the Walls
Home insulation can have a big effect on your energy bill and your pipes. If you are planning to tackle some home improvement projects, insulating the exterior walls is one of the most important things that you can do for your pipes. When cold air cannot penetrate into insulation-lined walls, this will protect against freezing and bursting pipes caused by extreme temperatures.
Repair Exterior Wall Cracks
Fill cracks in your outside walls with a suitable caulk or sealant before the deep freezing temperatures arrive. The best time to apply caulk is while temperatures are still over 45-degrees Fahrenheit.
How to Thaw Frozen Pipes
If you find yourself dealing with frozen pipes, you may be able to resolve the issue yourself.
First, shut off the water supply to that area of plumbing (or the entire house if this is your only choice) before starting since the real problem begins after thawing. That’s because the frozen water may be blocking the leaks in your pipes, preventing water from gushing out. Water pours out when that plug is unfrozen. Make sure to be prepared with a mop, bucket, and towels.
Use a space heater, heat lamp, or hair dryer to thaw the frozen pipe. Wrapping freezing pipes with thermostatically controlled heat tape is also an effective way to quickly thaw a trouble spot.
If you are uncomfortable thawing your frozen pipes or run into issues, contact Bodenheimer Plumbing!
Frozen Pipes? Contact Bodenheimer Plumbing!
If you have any questions or concerns about frozen pipes, please don’t hesitate to contact Bodenheimer Plumbing. We are happy to help in any way that we can! If you have a burst pipe, contact us for 24-hour assistance.
