This weekend is set to be the coldest in the past few years with temperatures dropping to the single digits overnight. While we know to bundle ourselves up to keep warm many people forget to check to make sure their pipes stay warm as well.
Ice forming in a pipe does not typically cause a break where the ice blockage occurs. After a complete ice blockage in a pipe, continued freezing and expansion inside the pipe causes water pressure to increase downstream — between the ice blockage and a closed faucet at the end. Usually the pipe bursts where little or no ice has formed.
Here are some tips to help avoid this common cause of winter property damage:
How to Prevent Frozen Pipes
• Pipes that have frozen in the past or near exterior walls are obvious candidates for special attention.
• Insulate areas where vulnerable pipes are located.
• When insulation isn’t enough, consider pipe wrappings embedded with electrical coils (heat tape) that provide an outside source of heat.
• Remove hoses from outside yard faucets. The faucets can’t drain properly with a hose attached and will freeze and break if the hose is left attached.
• During severe cold weather, resist the urge to lower your thermostat to save money while you are gone for the day.
• Open the doors to kitchen and bathroom cabinets under your sinks so heat from the room will help warm the pipes.
• Running water does not freeze very readily. During severe cold weather, keep a stream of water trickling out of faucets or spouts attached to vulnerable pipes.
• If you have a sprinkler system, drain all outdoor pipes and turn off the water supply to the system
What To Do If A Pipe Freezes
• To prevent a frozen pipe from bursting, open the faucet it supplies with water. Then add heat to the area where the pipe is located.
• Turn off the water supply to that line.
• If a pipe does burst, immediately turn off the water to your home.
• Know where your main water emergency shut-off valve is located.
If the worst should happen Property Adjustment Corporation can help you pay for damages to your home from water damage. We Make Things Right! 877-355-FIRE
