Protect Your Pipes This Winter
Winter in the Midwest can be unpredictable. One minute it can be snowing and the next it’s 45 degrees out. You don’t want to get caught unprepared when sub-zero temperatures roll in. For the sake of your home and your sanity, it’s important to know how to protect your pipes from freezing.
Pipes can freeze and burst when temperatures fall below freezing — a common occurrence in Indiana. Frozen pipes can occur in homes with both plastic and copper pipes. Regardless, water can do a number on your pipes. This can stem from sudden drops in outside temperatures, poor insulation, or too cold of an indoor climate. When cold, water’s volume expands and puts a strain on the pipes.
You don’t want to leave anything to chance. Even a small crack or two can cause a burst pipe or other devastating and costly damage in terms of hundreds of gallons of water flooding your home. Don’t just take our word for it. According to FEMA, the average amount the National Flood Insurance Program paid homeowners for flooding claims in recent years was $66,000.
However, with some basic plumbing knowledge, foresight and discretion, you can keep pipes from freezing. In the event you do run into this issue, we walk you through how to navigate it and prevent further damage.
5 Ways to Prevent a Freeze
Here are a few ways to prevent your pipes from freezing:
1. Add insulation. Pipes in your attic and crawl space should be properly insulated. Alternatively, you can use heat tape to wrap pipes. When in doubt, it’s best to consult and expert to get the job done right the first time.
2. Keep cold air out. Apply sealing or caulking products to cracks, especially areas where pipes run from inside to outside the home. Think dryer vents and water pipes.
3. Don’t forget the outside. Direct your attention to the outdoors, too, when trying to prevent a freezing episode. Your garden hoses should be disconnected. The same goes for any outdoor faucets with cut-off valves. They need to be closed. Drain the faucets as a means of precaution. Faucet covers can also add peace of mind.
4. When in doubt, drip. One way to get ahead of a potential freeze is to keep water moving through your water system. If the forecast calls for below freezing temperatures, be proactive by starting a small drip in your faucets. Do this in the kitchen, bath, laundry areas and any other faucets in the home.
5. Plan. Going on a vacation? It’s best to tell a friend or family member if you’ll be away for more than a weekend. Ask them to come and monitor your pipes. Keep them informed on the precautions you’ve taken to avoid a burst. Though you may be tempted to save a few dollars, it’s best to leave the heat on your home no lower than 55 degrees.
6. Keep your garage door closed. This tip is less known. Keep your garage door closed, especially if water supply lines go through this area. Midwest garage floors often feature smooth concrete, keeping conditions cold. If accidentally left open, an overhead door can expose pipes to freezing temperatures.
What to Do If Pipes Freeze
Sometimes you end up with a problem on your hands, despite your best efforts. If this happens to you, take a deep breath, try to stay calm and follow these steps.
1. Turn on the faucet. If the water flow is hampered, you may have a frozen pipe.
2. Check along the water supply lines. Feel for cold spots and keep an eye out for line breaks.
3. If you encounter broken pipes, turn off the main water supply to the house. Your next move should be to call a licensed plumber.
How to Thaw Frozen Pipes
Iced pipes can be a precursor to a burst. In this case, proceed with caution to thaw pipes.
This advice applies for both exposed and enclosed pipes. First, turn on the faucet for the affected pipe. The flowing water should help the ice break up.
Exposed pipes, however, need a heat source to melt the ice inside. You can this by following this order of operations:
1. Use a heating pad to wrap the pipe and crank the temperature dial up to high.
2. Use a hairdryer on high power and point it at the pipe. The idea is to keep the air moving around the pipe in 12-inch to 16-inch sections at a time.
3. Cover the pipe with damp and warm towels. Be sure to switch these out regularly, as they lose heat to the pipe.
4. Use a space heater to circulate warm air around an area of the pipe. Move the heat source to various spots as needed and continue until the pipes are thawed and the water pressure returns to baseline.
We should mention that you should refrain from using extreme heat or open flames, such as a heat gun or blow torch, to thaw a pipe. This is a known fire hazard and can also cause damage to the plumbing system.
For enclosed pipes, you should take these precautions:
• Turn up the heat. The higher temperatures could help to warm up pipes located inside walls.
• If necessary, cut out a section of the wall to access the pipe. Then try one of the methods outlined above.
Once you know how to keep pipes from freezing, you can do your part to prevent an incident. Take this advice to heart and protect your home and your pocketbook this season. Spring will be here before we know it. In the meantime, stay safe and warm!
On that note, we’re licensed in Indiana and Michigan and have decades of experience to handle any job. We can handle your residential plumbing needs in Northeast Indiana. We also install water heaters, water softeners, and can fix that leaky pipe in your basement. If you have questions or would like to arrange for a free quote, call 800.621.6679.