As the temperature starts sliding lower, the risk of the pipes around your home freezing also increases and you need to know how to prevent frozen pipes this winter. Pipe freezing can lead to bursts which may cause flooding.
This makes it essential to take precautionary measures that would completely prevent issues of frozen pipes before the temperature starts dropping.
Pipes burst are due to expansion and pressure. Water expands when frozen and places pressure on the pipes causing them to burst. The pipes around unheated areas of the home such as the basement, attic, and garage are more at risk of freezing. Those that are close to the exterior walls are also likely to get frozen.
What can you do?
Ensure that pipes are properly insulated. Crawl into your attic and check your insulators, go to your basement and garage and inspect the plumbing. Add additional insulation to the walls and ceilings to keep the pipe warm. You can fit the pipes with rubber or fiberglass to help sustain the temperature of the water inside the pipe and reduce the possibility of freezing.
Additionally, you can use heating tapes on areas that are at more risk of freezing. The heating tape supplies heat to the pipe to keep it from freezing; it can automatically switch on when the temperature starts dropping.
Check where the pipes enter various parts of the house and seal any gap around it. Ensure no pipe is left exposed. Check for openings around doors, windows and at the foundation of the house and seal as well.
Keep the heat up
Many experts will suggest turning off the heat to reduce your bill, however leaving it on can help prevent pipe freezing and bursting, and is less expensive than fixing a broken pipe or the resulting damages if it floods your home.
You can set your thermostat at around 60° or higher when the temperature is likely to drop overnight. If you plan on leaving town for a few days, ensure you leave the heater on. Set it at a temperature of not less than 55°.
What if you spot a frozen pipe?
If you turn on the tap and nothing comes up, then it’s likely you have a frozen pipe. Before you start thawing the pipes, open the drain to reduce the pressure.
Start thawing from the faucet and work your way down to the blockage; this will reduce the chances of pipe burst. You should be careful and ensure the pipe hasn’t already busted, as the water can flow with full force and flood your home.
If you already have a broken pipe, then you should turn off the water and call a plumber to fix it.
Conclusively, the underlying factor in preventing freezing and pipe bursts around your home is to make adequate preparation and ensure proper installation of pipes.
At RPM Plumbing we offer unrivaled plumbing services tailored to meet your needs. We have a special package designed to put in place measures that ensure the safety of your plumbing and eliminate chances of freezing and pipe bursts.
Call us today to look at your home and ensure you have an issue free winter. We look forward to helping you with your plumbing and heating needs.
