What to Do if Water Pipes Freeze and Burst?
Frozen Pipes Cause Water Damage
With fall upon us, winter temperatures are not far behind and neither are water damages from frozen pipes. Unfortunately, even in mild winter cities, such as Dallas – Fort Worth, water damages from burst pipes can be common at least once or twice each cold and rainy season. However, it is the best time to think proactively about frozen pipes prevention measures, prior to temperatures dipping below 32 degrees. Being prepared may prevent water damages from occurring at your home. In fact, with some care and forethought, a homeowner can prevent water damage scenarios due to frozen pipes disasters. These tips are easy to implement and are worth the time and effort.
How to prevent frozen pipes outdoors?
1. Remove any hose that is attached to an outside faucet and shut off water supply to any exterior faucets. That step alone is significant in taking care of many frozen pipe damage situations outdoors in the wintertime.
2. Cover all outdoor pipes with electric heating tape to maintain or elevate the temperature in them and prevent freezing. Then cover heating tape with insulating material such as fiberglass or foam, which will insure the pipes will not freeze, as insulation prevents or at least reduces loss of heat.
How to prevent frozen pipes indoors?
1. Maintain a constant temperature of at least 55 degrees inside the home, even when going out of town.
2. Keep bathroom and kitchen cabinet doors open for air circulation around pipes.
3. Open both cold and hot water faucets to let them drip slightly. Even a slow water flow may prevent a pipe from freezing. However, more importantly, there will be a reduction in pressure if water does freeze and turns to ice, preventing a burst or broken water pipe.
4. Caulk and seal cracks on the perimeter of the house to prevent cold outdoor air from circulating and lowering temperature around water pipes.
Frozen pipes can cause enormous water damages. They leak, crack and burst when pressure builds up during cold winter weather. Property owners can prevent many of these damages by thinking ahead and protecting their water pipes.
Frozen Pipes Cause Water Damage
How to prevent frozen pipes outdoors?
1. Remove any hose that is attached to an outside faucet and shut off water supply to any exterior faucets. That step alone is significant in taking care of many frozen pipe damage situations outdoors in the wintertime.
2. Cover all outdoor pipes with electric heating tape to maintain or elevate the temperature in them and prevent freezing. Then cover heating tape with insulating material such as fiberglass or foam, which will insure the pipes will not freeze, as insulation prevents or at least reduces loss of heat.
How to prevent frozen pipes indoors?
1. Maintain a constant temperature of at least 55 degrees inside the home, even when going out of town.
2. Keep bathroom and kitchen cabinet doors open for air circulation around pipes.
3. Open both cold and hot water faucets to let them drip slightly. Even a slow water flow may prevent a pipe from freezing. However, more importantly, there will be a reduction in pressure if water does freeze and turns to ice, preventing a burst or broken water pipe.
4. Caulk and seal cracks on the perimeter of the house to prevent cold outdoor air from circulating and lowering temperature around water pipes.
Frozen pipes can cause enormous water damages. They leak, crack and burst when pressure builds up during cold winter weather. Property owners can prevent many of these damages by thinking ahead and protecting their water pipes.
