How to Prevent Freezing Pipes

7/2/2022 (Permalink)

Avoid Frozen Pipes 

Imagine hundreds of gallons of water flooding into your home. Frozen pipes can lead to this disastrous scenario due to the pressure that freezing water puts on a pipe that can’t expand; pressures can rise to over 2,000 pounds per square inch. So, pipe freeze prevention is crucial when you live in a climate that sees temperatures reach 20 degrees or below. Avoid frozen pipes by:

1. Letting Faucets Drip
If temperatures are expected to drop to 20 degrees or below, you should turn your indoor faucets on a slow drip. The constantly moving water keeps pressure from building up in the pipes.

2. Leaving Cabinet Doors Open
Every little amount of heat helps during extremely cold temperatures. Open cabinet doors to sinks to expose the pipes to the warmer air of the home. Also, leave the door open to any rooms that have plumbing but no air vents; these pipes are especially susceptible to freezing.

3. Wrapping Pipes
There are several ways to warm pipes. Electrical heat tape is the most effective method of pipe freeze prevention. It should be chosen for the most extreme climates. Thermostatically-controlled heat tape will automatically turn on when temperatures drop below a certain point.

4. Insulating Pipes
Foam insulation works well for more moderately cold climates. Foam insulation is easy to install; it’s usually just placed over the pipe.

5. Heating Unheated Areas
Unheated areas need to be heated to at least 40 degrees to keep pipes from freezing. However, portable heaters should never be left unattended, so it’s best to have a permanent heater installed.

6. Removing Hoses
Hoses that are attached to outdoor hose bibbs or sillcocks should be detached before the temperatures reach freezing. The water should be shut off to the faucet and the water drained.
Pipe freeze prevention is one of the most important proactive measures you can take during the cold weather months. If your Webster Groves, MO, home experiences a burst pipe, water damage cleanup experts can return it to its preloss condition.