There are some experiences most people never want to have. A plumbing leak or break is probably on that list. The aggravation and cost of fixing the pipe itself is bad enough, but there’s also the damage the burst pipe does to the rest of our home. Walls, ceilings, or floors have to be replaced. Those boxes of memories stored in the basement or crawl space can be ruined. Sometimes, the damage will be covered by insurance. But, you could have to pay for it all on our own. Either way, you still have to live in a construction zone. Preventing frozen and broken pipes is a much better option.
Before it’s too late, we need to think about preparing for the winter. Planning ahead can make a surprise cold snap no big deal.
How to Prevent Pipes from Freezing:
- Both hot and cold water pipes should be well insulated
- Consider installing insulation products made for pipes:
- “Pipe sleeves” or UL-listed “heat tape,” “heat cable,” or similar materials.
- Even newspaper or old towels can provide some degree of insulation and protection to exposed pipes. A ¼” of newspaper can provide significant protection in areas that won’t frequently freeze or be exposed to cold temperatures for a long time
- Remove, drain, and store hoses used outdoors
- Check around the home for water supply lines that are located in unheated areas (basement, crawl space, attic, garage, and under sinks, etc.)
- Do not put antifreeze in your pipes unless it’s recommended by a plumbing professional. Antifreeze is environmentally harmful and it is dangerous to humans, pets, wildlife, and landscaping
- It’s not recommended to drain the pool and other water lines and “winterize” your home unless you’re going to be away for a very long time.
- Most systems are not installed with this in mind, so when you shut the system down and drain the faucet and hose bibbs, you still have large sections of pipe full of water. Even with the faucets open, this water can still freeze and burst the pipe.
Once the cold weather has settled in, there’s more preventative action to take.
- Keep your garage doors closed to keep water supply lines from freezing and keep cold drafts from entering your home.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate around the plumbing (be sure to remove any harmful cleaners and household chemicals).
- Let the cold-water faucet trickle at the farthest faucet in the system from the main line and at the faucets on the northern side of the house. Running water through the pipe helps prevent the pipes from freezing.
- Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both day and night. Suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures may produce a higher heating bill, but it may prevent more costly repairs to your plumbing.
- If you are away from home during cold weather, leave the heat set to at least 55° F to circulate enough warm air.
How to thaw or fix frozen pipes:
If you are caught with your pipes exposed, you may find you have a frozen pipe if you turn on a faucet and only a trickle – if anything – comes out. But you might be able to thaw the pipe before any damage occurs.
Likely places for frozen pipes include pipes in exterior walls or where your water service enters your home through the foundation. Apply gentle heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater, or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or any other open flame. Apply gentle heat until the full water pressure is restored. Keep the faucet open. As the frozen area begins to melt, the running water will begin to flow and help melt ice in the pipe. Check all other faucets in your home, if one pipe is frozen, others may be, too. If you can’t locate the frozen area or if you can’t thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber as soon as possible.
Even with your preparations for the winter weather, a water pipe can still freeze. But it can be a manageable problem instead of a disaster. First determine where the pipe burst and if it is still frozen. You’ll want to repair the burst pipe before you thaw it. Depending on how your plumbing was installed, you may need to shut off the main water supply to the entire house. The main shut off valve for your house is usually near the water meter or where the water supply enters into your home. After you call your licensed plumber, soak up any standing water with a towel or use a wet dry vac. Use fans to circulate air in the area to dry carpeting, etc. and prevent mold from growing. Depending on the amount of water, you may have to pull up the flooring or replace drywall.
Your licensed plumber will most likely repair the burst metal pipe with a PEX plastic pipe. This may help prevent future breaks. But, you may want to consider relocating exposed pipes to prevent future issues, if possible. You may also want to consider adding insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces. Your certified plumber may have additional suggestions for preventing frozen pipes. They may also have specials on equipment or other services. They may also have service plans, like Berkeys BAM Plan, that can help save you money on service calls and provide annual plumbing tune-ups.
You can call Berkeys Air Conditioning & Plumbing 24/7 at 972.464.2057 or visit www.Berkeys.com for questions and scheduling information. Or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Berkeys.