Are Your Pipes Freezing Too?

It’s been cold outside this winter and if you live where winter weather has hit the hardest you have undoubtedly been chilled to the bone, but don’t forget your pipes might be freezing too. When temperatures drop below freezing, as they have several times across the U.S. this winter, the possibility of home pipes bursting becomes a pressing threat.

Bursting pipes are a wretched home disaster that most of us cross our fingers and hope doesn’t happen to us. Don’t rely on luck to save your home from hundreds of dollars in water damage. Get the why, when and what to do to help protect your home from the blistering cold.

Why:
Pipes burst because there is too much pressure inside the pipe. Pressure builds when water freezes inside the pipes, becoming ice that blocks the passageway and expands against the pipe walls.

When:
Your home piping is in danger when the temperature outdoors dips below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. This is when the temperature around and inside your pipes is below freezing and water turns to ice.

What To Do:
Use these simple tricks to help keep your pipes working properly in even the coldest weather:

Before:

• Cover pipes that are not exposed to heating such as in attics, basements and crawl spaces with insulation.

• Always make sure your pipes are well sealed. Any small openings around the pipes can let cold winds in.

During:

• For pipes hidden behind cabinets, open the cabinet doors to allow heat from the home to circulate around the pipes.

• Moving water is less likely to freeze. Therefore, leaving facets on releasing a trickle of water will help prevent an accumulation of ice and pressure inside the pipes.

Stick to these sure-fire tips because even just an eighth-inch crack in pipes can unload up to 250 gallons of water a day- causing serious damage to your home.
 

• Tweet