Preventing Frozen Pipes During the Winter
Winter is coming, and temperatures have already dropped. It’s time for homeowners to prepare everything for the winter so that their home is ready to weather the season. One of the main aspects of winterizing the home in the fall is preparing the plumbing to withstand the cold.
During the winter, the pipes in the home can take a lot of abuse. When temperatures drop below freezing, pipes that aren’t properly protected can freeze. Frozen pipes have a lot of potential to cause damage around the home, so owners must take steps to prevent them. Here is a quick guide to help owners prepare their plumbing for winter.
The Dangers of Frozen Pipes
The water inside the piping is susceptible to freezing. Once the temperatures dip below 32 degrees, water will slowly freeze. The further the temperature drops, the faster this process will be.
A frozen pipe by itself is a hassle. Losing access to water at a sink or outdoor spigot may be an inconvenience, but the real danger of frozen pipes lies in the damage they can do when a pipe bursts. As water inside the piping freezes, it expands with shocking force. Freezing water is capable of causing plastic and metal pipes to burst. Once the pipe starts to thaw, the water pressure in the plumbing system will push the ice plug out, and flooding can happen within seconds. The amount of work that goes into fixing the damage from the flood far outweighs the cost of taking precautions.
Can Pipe Insulation Help?
The first tool to help prevent frozen pipes and the resulting burst pipes is a product called pipe insulation. Indeed, pipe insulation is so good at its job that it is often the only tool homeowners need to completely protect their plumbing during the winter.
Insulation for pipes works by wrapping all exposed piping in a cozy layer of fiberglass or foam. Pipe insulation comes in long sections split longitudinally so they can be slipped over stretches of pipes. The split is taped shut using duct tape or reflective tape so no cold air can slip into the joint. This slows down the heat exchange with cold air to keep pipes warmer for longer.
More Tips for Preventing Frozen Pipes
While pipe insulation can go a long way towards protecting pipes during the winter, it isn’t the best option in some cases. The best advice is to have a plumbing contractor inspect the plumbing before the winter comes so they can come up with the best option for every situation. Some of the alternatives they may suggest for pipes that may be subject to freezing are:
- Rerouting pipes that are in poorly insulated exterior-facing walls
- Insulating or rerouting pipes that are in attics
- Leaving faucets dripping so warmer water is always moving through pipes
- Installing heat tape for large pipes to protect them in extreme cold snaps
- Upgrading exposed pipes to PEX or other materials that are more burst-resistant
About B&L Plumbing
Commercial and residential owners can protect their piping in the winter with help from B&L Plumbing. Their experts quickly deal with burst pipes and insulate pipes to prevent winter problems. Call today for professional plumbing services in Colorado Springs, CO.
