How to Prevent Frozen Pipes This Winter
Severe winter weather brings a significant threat to the home: frozen piping. When temperatures drop below the freezing point, water inside the pipes can turn to ice, expand, and this pressure can cause the pipes to rupture and burst, leading to catastrophic water damage.
However, property owners can implement some preventative measures to protect against frozen and burst pipes. From insulating piping to ensuring warmth reaches critical areas, preparing the plumbing is an important defense against extreme cold. This guide outlines some key strategies to help protect the plumbing during freezing temperatures.
Insulate the Pipes
A crucial step in safeguarding the pipes from freezing is the application of pipe insulation. Pipes situated in areas of the house that are unheated or poorly protected, such as the attic, garage, crawl space, or an unfinished basement, face the greatest vulnerability to frigid temperatures. These spaces typically lack sufficient, consistent heating to keep pipes above freezing temperatures, making them high-risk locations for freezing and subsequent pipe failure.
Covering these exposed lines with specialized materials—like foam pipe wraps, fiberglass sleeves, or electric heat tape—establishes a shield that significantly slows down the transfer of cold air. Insulating these critical pipe segments minimizes the likelihood of the water inside turning to ice and expanding, thus helping to avoid costly pipe bursts and extensive water damage.
Keep the Heat on and Open Cabinets
Keeping a stable, warm temperature inside the residence is one of the simplest and most effective methods for protecting internal water pipes from the cold. When the outdoor temperature plummets, setting the home's heating system to a steady temperature, 55°F or higher, provides continuous warmth that permeates the building's structure. Even if the home is unoccupied, maintaining a temperature above this point is essential for plumbing safety. By preventing the temperature around the pipes from dropping too low, homeowners can reduce the chances of pipes freezing.
In addition to adequate home heating, another simple strategy for protecting concealed plumbing is to open the doors of cabinets located beneath kitchen and bathroom sinks, especially those on exterior walls. Water lines frequently run along these exterior walls and are often blocked from the home's interior heat by closed cabinet doors. Opening these doors allows the warmer air circulating within the heated rooms to circulate around the pipes and associated fittings, adding an important layer of defense during severe cold spells.
Winterize Outdoor Faucets
Outdoor spigots, commonly referred to as hose bibs, and their connected pipes are particularly prone to freezing due to their constant exposure to the outdoor environment. The essential steps for their protection begin with detaching all connected garden hoses. Any residual water trapped within an attached hose can freeze, expand, and force the ice backward into the faucet mechanism, potentially damaging the valve and the supply pipe in the wall. Once the hose is disconnected and fully drained, store it until spring.
The next vital action is to ensure there is no water remaining in the supply line itself. This is accomplished by locating the dedicated shut-off valve for the outdoor faucet and closing the water supply to the exterior fixture. After shutting off the supply for it, open the outdoor spigot to allow any trapped water within the pipe to drain completely. Finally, once the line is empty, cover the outdoor faucet with a sturdy, insulating cover to create an effective barrier against cold air.
About Update Heating and Cooling Services
Update Heating and Cooling Services is a local heating, air conditioning, electrical, and plumbing company serving New Lenox and the surrounding communities. They provide flat-rate pricing, free estimates, and quality-trained technicians. Call them for plumbing and burst pipe repair services in New Lenox, IL.
