Prevent Frozen Pipes This Winter Season

We’ve all been there. The weatherman predicts a serious cold snap, and a sense of dread washes over you. It’s not just the inconvenience of a winter storm, but the fear of dealing with frozen pipes and potential water damage that can lead to costly repairs.

To prevent frozen pipes, it’s essential to focus on winter preparation before temperatures drop.

Why Pipes Freeze and Burst

Water expands as it freezes. This expansion puts tremendous pressure on pipes, whether they’re metal or plastic. No matter the strength of the pipe, freezing water can cause it to break.

Pipes most likely to freeze are those exposed to severe cold. These pipes include outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, and water sprinkler lines.

Where Are Pipes Most Vulnerable?

Pipes in unheated interior spaces such as attics are also susceptible to pipes freezing. Other areas could include crawl spaces and even kitchen cabinets.

It is common for pipes running against exterior walls with little or no insulation to have this problem as well. It helps to know the types of water pipes so you can determine how best to handle it.

Types of Water Pipes

There are several types of water pipes that all have different qualities, life cycles and ways they need to be handled.

Here’s a helpful table summarizing key information about common pipe types and how to protect them from freezing:

Pipe Type	Material	Common Use	Freezing Risk	Mitigation
Copper	Metal	Water supply lines	Moderate	Insulate, apply heat tape
PEX (Cross-linked Polyethylene)	Plastic	Water supply lines	Low	Insulate in extreme cold
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)	Plastic	Drain, waste, vent lines	Moderate	Insulate, bury deep
CPVC (Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride)	Plastic	Hot and cold water supply	Moderate	Insulate, apply heat tape
Galvanized Steel	Metal	Older water supply lines	High	Replace, insulate, heat tape

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

Before cold weather hits, take steps to protect your water pipes. Start by draining water from swimming pool and water sprinkler supply lines, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Remove, drain, and store any garden hoses used outdoors. Close inside valves that supply outdoor hose bibs, and open the outside hose bibs to allow any water remaining to drain.

Insulating Your Home is Important

Adding insulation is one of the best things you can do. Install insulation to attics, basements, and crawl spaces to help maintain warmer temperatures.

Check for other areas where water supply lines are in unheated areas, like under kitchen cabinets. Both hot and cold water pipes should be insulated in those types of areas.

Consider using products like pipe sleeves, or install UL-listed heat tape on exposed water pipes. You could also consider relocating exposed pipes to help prevent frozen pipes.

Practical Steps During Cold Weather

If there are water supply lines in the garage, keep garage doors closed. This can help keep any moving water flowing safely, thus acting to prevent pipes freezing.

Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate. This simple step to allow warmer air to circulate will assist to prevent frozen pipes.

When it’s very cold outside, let cold water drip from faucets served by exposed pipes. Running water, even a trickle, will help to prevent frozen pipes as moving water is less likely to freeze.

Maintain Consistent Indoor Temperatures

Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature day and night. Any temperature 55 degrees or higher is appropriate to help keep your pipes safe.

Thawing Frozen Pipes

If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. First, make sure your main water valve is turned on.

If the main water valve is open, then you’ll want to follow some clear next steps to thaw frozen pipes. Keep the faucet open as you address this. As the frozen area begins to melt, water will begin to flow. Running water will further help melt ice in the pipe.

Steps to Apply Heat for Frozen Pipes

Apply heat to the section of frozen pipe. You can use a heating pad or a hair dryer to apply heat.

A portable space heater can work, but keep it away from any flammable materials. Wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water is another option to safely thaw a frozen pipe, but avoid having water touch any of the electronics you’re using.

Do not, under any circumstances, use devices like propane heaters or any device with an open flame. Blowtorches risk having a pipe burst if it were to overheat, causing much bigger problems. Apply heat until full water pressure is restored, and if you cannot locate or reach the frozen area call a licensed plumber.

How to find your Water Main

Knowing where the water main is located is crucial. Finding your main shut-off valve before an emergency strikes is good emergency preparedness.

The main water valve is often found where the water supply enters your house, typically in the basement. If the water valve is outside, it might be in a concrete box near the street.

Use a wrench to turn the water off if needed. You should also mark the shut-off valve with something easy to find, such as a ribbon, to quickly find your water main.

Steps to Follow for Fall Pipe Protection

Prepare every autumn. As temperatures drop it’s important to get ready to prevent pipes from freezing.

Expanding water can lead to damage and costly repairs, sometimes requiring extensive restoration. Remove and store garden hoses to help prevent these risks.

Be sure to also seal air leaks around fixtures, close off crawl spaces, and insulate pipes and attics. Consider a pipe sleeve for water pipes that are not insulated.

What to do When Pipes Burst

Shut off your main water valve if a pipe burst were to occur. Next, call a licensed plumber.

Water utilities are generally responsible for pipe lines up to your property, but not the pipes on it.

FAQs: Prevent Frozen Pipes

How do I stop my pipes from freezing?

Insulate exposed pipes, and seal air leaks. Let faucets drip during extreme cold to help you prevent frozen pipes.

At what temperature will pipes freeze?

Pipes can start to freeze when temperatures are below 20°F.

Do all faucets need to drip to prevent freezing?

Focus on faucets connected to exposed pipes. But it’s generally wise to have at least one faucet with running water.

How long can pipes stay frozen without bursting?

There’s no definite time, but the longer they’re frozen, the higher the chance of bursting. Take steps quickly.

Conclusion

Safeguarding your home against the harsh winter elements by preventing frozen pipes is not only a proactive measure but a vital one to avoid costly repairs and ensure peace of mind. By understanding the risks, insulating vulnerable areas, and maintaining consistent indoor temperatures, you can protect your plumbing system throughout the cold season.

For assistance and expert advice on winterizing your plumbing, reach out to Newwrx Plumbing. Our experienced team is ready to help you implement the best strategies to keep your pipes safe and your home secure all winter long.