Frozen Plumbing
Frozen pipes can be a cause for major water damage, especially here in Michigan. Aladdin’s Restorative Drying knows this from first hand experience, that’s why we want to help you prevent freezing pipes in your home this winter.
Why Pipe Freezing is a Problem
Water has a unique property, it expands as if freezes. This is common knowledge, however most people are unaware of the tremendous strength of freezing water. In a home, water supply lines made of plastic, lead, and copper are all capable of cracking, splitting, or bursting from the pressure of freezing water inside. Frequently pipes that are exposed to severe cold or unheated interior areas such as basements, crawl spaces, attics, exterior walls, garages, outside faucets, or inside cabinets are in the most danger of freezing. If any of these areas with pipes are un-insulated or under-insulated the risk is even greater.
Preventing Frozen Pipes
Before cold weather arrives consider following these hints to help protect water supply lines and pipes from freezing:
- Consider installing products made to insulate water pipes like a "pipe sleeve" or installing UL-listed "heat tape," "heat cable," or similar materials on exposed water pipes. Many products are available at your local building supplies retailer. Pipes should be carefully wrapped, with ends butted tightly and joints wrapped with tape. Follow manufacturer's recommendations for installing and using these products.
- Newspaper can provide some degree of insulation and protection to exposed pipes. Even ¼" of newspaper can provide significant protection in areas that usually do not have frequent or prolonged temperatures below freezing.
- Drain water from swimming pool and water sprinkler supply lines following manufacturer's or installer's directions. Do not put antifreeze in these lines unless directed. Antifreeze is environmentally harmful and is dangerous to humans, pets, wildlife, and landscaping.
- Remove, drain, and store hoses used outdoors. Close inside valves supplying outdoor hose bibs. Open the outside hose bibs to allow water to drain. Keep the outside valve open so that any water remaining in the pipe can expand without causing the pipe to break.
- Check around the home for other areas where water supply lines are located and are in unheated areas. Look in the basement, crawl space, attic, garage, and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Both hot and cold water pipes in these areas should be insulated. A hot water supply line can freeze just as a cold water supply line can if the water is not running through the pipe and the water temperature in the pipe becomes cold enough.
- Keep the heat on! If you go on vacation or will be away, don't turn your heat off. It's not necessary to keep it as high as if you were at home, but keeping the heat inside in the 50 - 60 degree range will help you keep the pipes warm.
- When the weather is very cold outside, let water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing because the temperature of the water running through it is above freezing.
How to Thaw Frozen Pipes
During cold weather if you turn on a faucet and nothing or only a few drips come out, chances are there is a frozen section in your supply line. The most likely place a line might freeze is at the entrance to your home through the foundation or an area where the line runs against an exterior wall.
- Open the faucet, as the ice begins to melt and water resumes flowing, the flow will help melt any remaining ice.
- Apply low steady heat. This can be done by wrapping the pipe with a heating pad, wrapping the pipe with towels soaked in hot water or using a hair dryer or a portable space heater. Be sure that the area is safe by removing any objects that could cause danger or are flammable.
- Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or any other open flame device. Applying too much heat to quickly can cause the water inside to boil or the pipes to explode. Open flame sources are also dangerous risks for fire and lethal carbon monoxide exposure.
- Apply heat until water pressure is restored.
- Check all other faucets in your home to find out if you have any additional frozen pipes.
If you are unable to locate or access the frozen section of pipe call a licensed plumber.
To prevent pipes from freezing in the future consider having the pipes at risk relocated to an area of less risk. You may also consider adding insulation to problematic areas, this will help to maintain higher temperatures in the area.
