How to Prevent Pipes from Freezing on Winters

Just a little ice can tear up a water supply line. That's bad, but the real disaster often occurs as the ice starts melting and water flows freely into your home. In a matter of minutes, that flow can do thousands of dollars in damage.

Why do pipers burst

When water freezes, it expands by a volume of about 8.9 percent. And it expands with tremendous force. The pressure inside pipes may go from 40 pounds per square inch to 40,000! No pipe can hold that much pressure, so it breaks. The burst pipe may occur where the ice forms, but most often, it occurs where water pressure finds a weak spot in the pipe. That may be inches or even feet from the frozen area. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect your pipes from the harsh winter cold.

Here are some temporary steps to prevent pipe freezes

The first sign would be reduced flow at faucets. So if the flow slows to trickle down during a cold front, or if you suspect your pipes are vulnerable, it's time to take action. Here’s how to make sure your pipes don’t freeze:

• Turn up the heat inside your home.

• Set up some fans to blow heat into the cold rooms.

• Open cabinet doors so warm air can reach the pipes under the sinks.

• If you have exposed pipes inside closets or pantries, leave doors open.

• Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor water faucets.

• Keep the garage door closed.

• If you have reduced water flow, heat up the most vulnerable pipes in basements and crawl spaces or near exterior walls with a hairdryer. Leave the water running while you apply heat. As you melt the ice, the flow will increase.

More permanent protection against pipe freezing

Long term freeze prevention is usually takes a lot of work, like installing insulation around exposed pipes and faucets, replacing outdoor faucets with frost proof models, or even rerouting pipes away from cold spots inside the home. Start by calling in a professional plumber to assess your situation and make recommendations.

Electric heat cable is good protection during the winter. A thermostat switches on the heat only when the temperature drops, so the heat cable won’t waste electricity when it isn’t needed.