Stop Your Pipes From Freezing at Home
Be Proactive by Keeping Your Pipes From Freezing
Once the cold weather sets in, the outdoor pipes which feed your home are susceptible to freezing. The typical areas are those which are usually unheated such as attics, garages, basements and crawlspaces. Those pipes which are covered by insufficiently insulated exterior walls are also affected, when the temperatures are at their lowest.
The predicament comes about when the metallic pipes are consistently frozen and allowed to thaw, before freezing again in a continuous cycle. This expansion and contraction weakens the pipe's structure causing it to lose its strength and break. Toxic mold can form from the breakage of a water pipe which can be hazardous to your health. If a repair is not quickly carried out, the mold can cause the house to become uninhabitable. Usually, home insurance policies will cover you for burst pipes, but not that of mold related damage.
Prevention is always better than a cure. Here is a checklist of what to look for and become proactive against burst pipes:
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Before the cold weather sets in, disconnect the garden hose.
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Use insulating sleeves wear necessary on the exposed metal pipes.
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Ensure the insulation of exterior walls is sufficient and fully cover the pipes which run nearby in places such as the basement, attic ceiling and under floors.
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Any crawlspaces need to be checked for cracks which could allow the temperatures to drop causing the frozen pipes.
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During extreme cold weather, open the cabinet doors below the sinks to ensure warmer air can circulate.
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Pipes which might be susceptible to freezing can be helped by running a small amount of water from the hot and cold faucets.
If you suspect the pipes are frozen, or when you turn the faucet on and only a small amount of water comes out, there are certain ways to thaw a frozen pipe correctly which can be seen here:
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Having running water will help disperse the ice and having the faucet kept open is the first step.
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By raising the temperature using artificial heat will help the pipe to thaw. A electric pipe blanket, a hairdryer, hot water soaked towels or a space heater can all help. It is more dangerous to use an open flame device such as a blowtorch or a propane heater as this will weaken the pipe and cause it to break. You do not want the water inside the pipe to boil as an explosion could occur and might invalidate your home insurance by doing so. It is important to check with your insurer first before making any repairs.
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Keep heating the area of frozen pipe until water pressure and volume are restored to normal. Use a licensed plumber if the pipe is hard to find or inaccessible.
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If one pipe in your home is frozen, there could be others. Make sure the other faucets are all working correctly.
Questions and Answers
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