How To Prevent Your Pipes From Freezing
November 18, 2021
A Vital Part Of Your Homes Health
When you become a homeowner the first thing a lot of people say is "it's a lot of work" and is it? Yes and No. The hardest part is dealing with the unexpected but if you are mindful of your home and treat it well, it will treat you well back. When you care for it, your house becomes a home and something to be proud of.
Why Do Pipes Freeze in the First Place?
Once the temperature drops to 32 degrees water begins to freeze and at 20 degrees celsius your pipes begin to freeze. As ice expands and the pipe freezes, pressure is the main villain in this situation. The pressure of the pipe increasing quickly is what makes it burst, here's some tips on avoiding this:
Keep Garage Doors Closed-
You want to keep the heat from your home inside and closing the garage can shield yourself from the biting wind. It is also especially important to keep it closed if you have any water pipes stored in the garage.
Open Kitchen and Bathroom Doors to Allow Warm Air to Circulate-
Allow warm air to circulate and be able to go around your kitchen plumbing by opening those cabinet doors and unshielding the warmth. You may want to do this on particularly cold days but if you have children around make sure to remove any harmful chemicals they may be able to get to.
If You Are Gone For a Long Period of Time, Don't Set The Heat to Lower Than 55 C-
Although we all want to save money on our heat bill while you're away, it is not worth the cost of frozen pipes bursting in your home. Leaving the temperature at 55 degrees Celsius at a minimum will allow your pipes to not get too cold when you're away.
Let The Faucet Drip-
It might feel counterintuitive to leave a faucet dripping, but allowing a faucet to drip a tiny bit allows the pipes pressure not to get too high. If the pressure is low and water freezes it won't cause it to burst.
Seal Up Cracks and Holes-
If you do a thorough inspection of your home to find any drafts and leaks you can solve many issues at once. You can save money on your heat and by making sure hot air doesn't escape you keep the termature balanced.
Add Extra Installation-
There are more permanent solutions but putting exterior insulation such as pipes covering around your pipes to add extra layers can highly decrease the odds of your pipes freezing.
(P.S) If you are looking at buying a new home always make sure to get the history of your homes pipes. How old are they? How have they been maintained? Has there ever been a burst before? (aka hidden mold?
Want to get your pipes inspected? Past flooding causing mold? Call us now at248-798-8800
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