If your home is vulnerable to freezing, there are ways to keep pipes safe and prevent water damage. Keeping your house warm and properly insulated can significantly reduce the chance of frozen pipes in your residence.
Additionally, leaving faucets running at a slow drip can help protect pipes from freezing. This small but steady flow eliminates the pressure that builds up between an ice blockage and your tap.
Turn Off the Water
As temperatures drop and winter arrives, your pipes may freeze. Not only is this an inconvenience but can cause serious damage to your home – such as water leaks or flooding – if left unchecked.
It is essential to take proactive measures in avoiding pipe freeze. That means turning off the water in your house when temperatures begin to dip. After that, you can safely inspect your pipes for any signs of frozen or burst pipes.
Once you find one, it is important to thaw it out promptly. This can be accomplished using various tools like space heaters, hair dryers and heating pads. For smaller sections of pipe, consider thermostatically-controlled heat tape as another effective thawing option.
Before doing anything else, always turn off the water to your home and inspect its pipes for any signs of frozen or burst pipes. If you discover one, thaw it out quickly in order to minimize damage to your property.
Once you’ve identified which pipes are frozen, apply heat to the area until full water pressure is restored. You can do this with a hair dryer or electric heating pad; however, never use an open flame or blowtorch as this could be hazardous and lead to electrical shock.
According to where your frozen pipe is located in your home, you may need to contact a plumber for assistance. You can locate these professionals by calling your local home improvement store or plumbing association for assistance.
Pipes can freeze in many places, including basements, attics, unused rooms in your home and any room connected to an exterior wall. As these areas typically lack insulation around the pipes they are more vulnerable to freezing temperatures.
Once your pipes thaw out, you must ensure they’re properly insulated. If not, you’ll need to add additional insulation or call a plumber for assistance.
Inspect the Pipes
One of the best ways to prevent pipe freeze in your home is by conducting a comprehensive inspection. This will enable an experienced professional to identify any problems and fix them before they cause serious harm to your property.
Regular pipe inspections can help detect any blockages or clogs in the pipes, saving you money on plumbing services over time. If a blockage isn’t fixed, water may back up into your home causing major disruption and mayhem.
An inspector may use video pipe inspection technology to gain an overview of the pipes in your home. This advanced technology utilizes a high-resolution camera connected to a flexible fiber optic scope rod, enabling plumbers to see inside pipes and determine whether they need replacing.
It can also detect any leaks present in pipes. This information allows the plumber to determine whether an area needs repair and if there are other issues that require attention.
If you’re buying a home, getting a pipe inspection before signing the dotted line can save you money in the long run. In some municipalities, this inspection may even be mandatory to sell your property.
The inspector can also detect any cracks in your pipes that could allow cold air into the system. Sealing these gaps will increase warmth retention and help avoid future freezing of your pipes.
When the outside temperature drops below freezing, running your faucets a bit will help protect your pipes from freezing. Running water has more kinetic energy and is less susceptible to freezing than still water.
Another way to protect frozen pipes from bursting is to add insulation to areas susceptible to cold weather, like the attic or crawlspace. You can also insulate outside hoses that come into direct contact with the ground.
Finally, setting your thermostat to a comfortable temperature for all members of the family day and night is essential. Not only will this save money on heating expenses, but it can also protect pipes from freezing.
Heat the Pipes
Winter brings cold temperatures and, sometimes, freezing pipes in homes with unheated spaces such as exterior walls, uninsulated crawl spaces or basements.
Frozen pipes can be costly to fix and lead to water damage and flooding, so it’s best to prevent them from occurring in the first place.
To protect your home’s plumbing from freezing, the most essential step you can take is insulate them. This insulation prevents water in pipes from absorbing cold air and freezing, saving time and money in the long run.
Insulation for water pipes can be installed quickly and affordably, covering existing pipes in just a few hours. This cost-effective solution prevents your water pipes from freezing in the first place, saving you thousands of dollars in plumbing repairs.
Another effective way to prevent frozen pipes is by increasing your thermostat. By setting it for 65 degrees or higher, you can help keep pipes warm and reduce the chance of burst pipes.
When temperatures begin to drop, open your cabinet doors beneath kitchen and bathroom sinks to let heat circulate through pipes. This is especially important if your cabinet doors are situated outside of your home.
Once exposed, open the water faucets serving these areas slightly so that water will drip and help thaw any frozen areas. Although this may seem like a minor step, it can make all the difference in preventing pipes from freezing and bursting.
Once you’ve done this, it is best to let the faucets drip a few times before turning them off to allow the ice to melt and pipes to thaw. Doing this makes for a slower thawing process which should reduce the risk of breaking pipes.
Once thawing is complete, you should turn on the water in your home. Be sure to shut off the main shutoff valve first so there won’t be any leaking or flooding issues later on.
Call a Plumber
No one enjoys dealing with plumbing issues, but the good news is that there are certain situations when calling a professional plumber is more beneficial than trying to handle the issue yourself. Leaks, major leaks, water pressure problems – these can all cause havoc for homeowners; but professionals know how to solve these problems quickly so you can get back to living your life as usual.
If you discover that your water supply has completely stopped on a morning, this could be indicative of serious trouble with your plumbing system. It could be due to frozen pipes, an extensive leak or backup.
A plumber must come to your house and assess the problem. They may need to lift up boards or enter your attic or crawl space in order to pinpoint its exact location.
Once they inspect the area, they can identify what caused the issue and suggest solutions. Doing this helps you prevent further damage to your home as well as future issues.
No matter the severity of the issue, a plumber is equipped to solve it. Not only that, but they may suggest improvements you can make to your home’s plumbing system that could reduce the likelihood of future freeze-ups.
When a plumber arrives at your home, they must first turn off the water before beginning work on your plumbing system. After that, they’ll lay down covers and don protective clothing to keep dirt and bacteria away from your residence’s plumbing components.
They will also request you to show them where the main water shut-off valve is situated. Doing so will enable them to stop the flow of water and shut off water to all your home if any pipes break or freeze.
Once they’re finished, they’ll leave your home and take their equipment with them – including any necessary items to thaw out frozen pipes. Using either a heating pad or hair dryer, they will gradually bring these pipes up to temperature using either an electric heating pad or hair dryer.
