As winter sets in and the temperature plummets, the last thing you need is frozen pipes in your home. It's bad enough trying to cope without running water, but you could end up with a major leak that damages ceilings, flooring and furniture.
Why are frozen pipes an issue?
When pipes freeze, your supply of water might be interrupted for a while. But worse than this, a frozen pipe can split or separate at the joint. Then you could have a disaster on your hands. When water freezes, it expands. If the frozen water is inside a pipe, the expansion process either breaks the material or pushes the joints apart.
As soon as the water thaws again, it will pour out of the splits or gaps. A small amount of water can cause a lot of damage to property. Damage that is expensive to repair is stressful to deal with. Avoid all of this by reading our 7 tips for preventing frozen pipes.
7 tips for preventing frozen pipes.
1. Insulate your pipes
Lagging material for pipes is inexpensive to buy and easy to install. All the pipes in cold areas should be carefully insulated, so get to work in the attic, basement and garage. Look at where pipes enter and leave your home – if they are exposed at this point, then they should be properly insulated too.
If you’ve covered your pipes a long time ago, check them again to make sure that they are still in good order. Some insulation material perishes after a while.
2. Close down your garden
In the Fall, it’s a good idea to shut your garden down and get it ready for winter. Along with sweeping up leaves and bringing in delicate plants, spare some time to care for your pipes and faucets.
Disconnect the hose pipe and empty any trapped water before putting it away. Insulate outdoor faucets with faucet covers (these are available at DIY stores).
Cover outlets such as overflow pipes or heating drain. It’s all part of winter preparation for the home. Here are some other seasonal tips to consider too.
3. Seal gaps and cracks
Take a close look around the areas where pipes come into the property. You may find there is a gap where freezing air gets in. Check the area where the walls meet the foundations, there might be a gap that shouldn’t be there.
These openings can cause cold spots that might freeze any pipes nearby. You’ll find several products on sale that will help you seal gaps, most of these chores can be completed by a DIYer.
4. Get your plumbing updated
If you have an older house or know that some issues need attention, you should get things sorted before winter. Some of these jobs should be looked at by a plumber.
Getting these niggling jobs completed now can prevent you from suffering from a failed water supply, frozen pipes, or leaks when you need them least.
5. Set your thermostat
Although it’s tempting to turn the heating off to save money, it could be a false economy if you end up with frozen pipes. Instead, when it’s frosty outside, keep the heating on most of the day and night but with the thermostat on low.
A steady warmth will stop pipes from getting cold enough to freeze. This is a top tip if you’re going away for a few days. Leave the heating system on, but turn the temperature down to around 55 degrees F. Ensure that you have an adequate boiler in place, otherwise having a boiler replacement might be on the cards.
6. Let the warm airflow
If you know you have pipes in some of the coldest parts of the home, make sure those spaces get a warm flow of air daily. Regularly open doors to the basement, leave cabinets ajar, undo the attic hatch and unlock spare rooms. Do this on the coldest days to circulate a little heat around the whole building.
7. Leave a faucet dripping
This tip is controversial! Some swear by it and others say it doesn’t work but if you leave one faucet dripping all the time, the water inside your pipes is constantly moving. Running water doesn’t freeze, so this makes a degree of sense.
A final note
It isn’t too difficult to stop your pipes from freezing in the winter. It just takes a bit of preparation and a small budget. Using the tips above, you can prevent leaks and the devastating damage a burst pipe can cause.
If you find you have a frozen pipe, what should you do? First of all, before you attempt to thaw it out, locate your shut-off valve and isolate the water supply. You never know how much harm has been done to the hidden plumbing, so you might want to call in a professional before matters get worse.
