As we head into Ohio’s chilly winter season, it’s important to prepare for freezing temperatures. Your home’s plumbing is particularly susceptible to damage from the cold. One common plumbing issue in the winter is frozen pipes. Here are some of our tips to avoid a costly and inconvenient mess!
Why Do Pipes Freeze and Burst?
When pipes are exposed to cold temperatures, the water inside begins to freeze. When the water freezes, it turns into ice and expands in the pipe. This pressure can result in burst pipes.
What are the Most Common Pipes that Freeze?
There is a complex system of pipes running throughout your home and outside. Some pipes are located in places more vulnerable to the cold temperatures. This includes:
- Outdoor pipes: hose bibs, sprinkler lines, swimming pool supply lines
- Supply lines in unheated areas of the home: garages, basements, attics
- Pipes located on or near exterior walls with poor (or no) insulation
What Can I Do to Prevent Frozen Pipes?
In a nutshell, the best way to prevent frozen pipes is to winterize your pipes and keep them warm.
Winterizing Pipes
Before the temperatures drop, do a little preventive work to avoid burst pipes. Try the following:
Outdoor Pipes
- Remove hoses and drain any water from them
- Close indoor valves that supply water to the outside
- Open hose bibbs and drain any water from them
- Drain the water from swimming pools and water sprinkler lines
Indoor Pipes
- Add insulation to cooler areas of the home such as attics, garages, basements, and crawl spaces
- Check for areas of the home where pipes and supply lines may not receive enough heat, like under sinks
- Try insulating your pipes with products such as pipe sleeves
Prevention Around the Home
When the cold air hits, try these tips:
- Keep a steady, warm temperature in the home – don’t drop the temperature too much
- When temperatures are extremely cold, let your pipes drip to keep water moving and stop freezing
- Encourage air circulation in areas that the heat struggles to reach. For instance, you can open bathroom cabinets to allow warm air to reach the water lines.
- Keep your garage door closed to protect any pipes in the garage
What Should I Do If I Think My Pipes Are Frozen?
If you turn on a faucet when it’s cold and only a small amount of water comes out, there is a good chance your pipes are frozen. So, what do you do? Don’t panic, try these steps to thaw your pipes:
- Leave the faucet open and water on. This allows the water to flow and prevent further pressure on the pipe as you heat it up. Make sure the drain is clear, so water doesn’t back up and overflow.
- Warm up your pipes using a hair dryer, space heater, or by wrapping an electric heating pad around the pipe. Avoid using anything with open flames, kerosene or propane heaters, and charcoal stoves.
- Once the water is running at full pressure again, you should be good-to-go.
- It’s worth checking other pipes in the house as they could also be frozen.
When Should I Call a Plumbing Professional?
It’s not worth taking a risk when it comes to frozen pipes. Burst pipes can be a costly mistake. If your water pressure doesn’t increase after trying to warm your pipes, you cannot locate the frozen pipe, or the frozen pipe is in an area unsafe to reach on your own, it’s time to call the experts. And of course, if your pipes have already burst, call a licensed plumber immediately!
The licensed plumbers at Henry Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing are ready to help unfreeze your pipes and get them back to perfect working condition. Contact us for help with all your plumbing needs, from emergency calls, to new installations and other repairs.
