Preventing Frozen Pipes in Winter

Nothing is worse on a cold, winter morning then when you wake up to find you have no water because the pipes have frozen. Fortunately this is a problem that you as a homeowner can remedy before it gets cold.

When temperatures begin dropping, and the weather becomes cool and crisp, it's time to prepare any outdoor taps or pipes for winter weather. First off, you should detach any garden hoses from outdoor taps, drain the hoses, and store them for winter. Then for those pipes that lead to outdoor taps, you should close the shut off valve. Once you've closed the shut off valve, turn your outdoor taps on so that any water remaining in them can be drained.

The next preventive measure you can take is to insulate your pipes. This is especially important for pipes that are located in cellars, garages, lofts, crawl spaces, and other areas of your home that don't receive much, if any, heat. The more insulation a pipe has, the less likely it is to freeze. In addition, you should take notice of any areas of your home near pipes where there may be cracks or gaps, in which cold air could get in.

Should you have plans to be away during the winter months, even for a few days, you need to make sure to leave your thermostat set to keep your house warm so the pipes don't freeze. This is important, as just a 3 millimeter crack in a pipe can spew 946 liters of water per day, which is both inefficient and expensive. Coming home to a flooded house is not how you would want to end your trip or holiday.

If you have the unfortunate experience of waking up to frozen pipes you should turn on your taps, as this will relieve the pressure as the ice melts inside the pipes. You can use appliances such as a blow dryer or a heat lamp to defrost the pipe. Under no circumstances should you use a blow torch or candle. In addition, you can leave your water running a very small, slow trickle through the pipes to prevent them from freezing again.

Take advantage of the warm months before winter to get your house and its plumbing ready for the cold temperatures that will soon descend. If you have questions about how you should prepare your pipes for winter or would like professional insulation around your pipes, contact a professional plumber for assistance.