Brr it’s getting cold outside!! And with the cold brings the chance of frozen pipes. Did you know all it takes is for the temperature to be 20 degrees or lower outside for your pipes to freeze or burst inside! This misfortune can have a devastating impact on your home. While the pipe itself is a minor fix, the damage from the water can rack up major reconstruction. The water damage can spread from running through the walls and ceiling which can require replacing the dry wall, ceilings, furniture and even appliances. Not to mention the loud noise of the air movers drying out the moisture. Here at Nixon Insurance we want to give you some tips to avoid this indoor swimming pool.
Plan ahead and figure out which pipes could potentially freeze. Water pipes running through unheated crawl spaces and pipes running through walls to the outside are prime candidates for freezing. Check any pipes that run close to outside walls. Put some fiberglass insulation between the pipe and the wall to help keep the cold away from the pipe. Insulate any pipes that run through unheated crawl spaces. Wrap them with fiberglass insulation and tape. Turn off the water supply lines running to your outside taps before the cold weather arrives. There is usually a shut off valve in the water supply line close to where it goes through the outside wall. Once the water is shut off inside, go outside and open the outside taps as well. This will drain any water remaining in the pipe or in the tap, so there's nothing to freeze. You can also install electrical heating tape on any pipe that runs through areas that get really cold, like garages.
Keep in mind that a hot water pipe running through an uninsulated or unheated area can freeze just as solidly as a cold water pipe, so insulate both hot and cold water pipes in any of these places. If the cold weather moves in before you have a chance to protect your pipes, a temporary solution is to leave your taps running just a trickle, since flowing water won't freeze as quickly as still water. One last tip… If your pipes do freeze, shut off the main water valve then open all faucets to relieve pressure in the pipes. A hair dryer can also be used to thaw the pipe. And don’t forget to call a plumber.
Nicole Emery, AIC, FCLA
Plan ahead and figure out which pipes could potentially freeze. Water pipes running through unheated crawl spaces and pipes running through walls to the outside are prime candidates for freezing. Check any pipes that run close to outside walls. Put some fiberglass insulation between the pipe and the wall to help keep the cold away from the pipe. Insulate any pipes that run through unheated crawl spaces. Wrap them with fiberglass insulation and tape. Turn off the water supply lines running to your outside taps before the cold weather arrives. There is usually a shut off valve in the water supply line close to where it goes through the outside wall. Once the water is shut off inside, go outside and open the outside taps as well. This will drain any water remaining in the pipe or in the tap, so there's nothing to freeze. You can also install electrical heating tape on any pipe that runs through areas that get really cold, like garages.
Keep in mind that a hot water pipe running through an uninsulated or unheated area can freeze just as solidly as a cold water pipe, so insulate both hot and cold water pipes in any of these places. If the cold weather moves in before you have a chance to protect your pipes, a temporary solution is to leave your taps running just a trickle, since flowing water won't freeze as quickly as still water. One last tip… If your pipes do freeze, shut off the main water valve then open all faucets to relieve pressure in the pipes. A hair dryer can also be used to thaw the pipe. And don’t forget to call a plumber.
Nicole Emery, AIC, FCLA
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