Can Your Pipes Handle the Coming Winter?

Winter is coming — and with it comes below freezing temperatures. Have you made sure your house’s pipes are ready to take on the cold?

Detecting Frozen Pipes

There are easy ways to know if you have frozen pipes on your property. Exposed lines coated in frost, for example, is an immediate warning sign that your lines are in danger of freezing over. Another red flag is when you attempt to turn on the faucet, and little to no water flows. Your pipes might have already solidified by then.

Additionally, it doesn’t mean you are in the clear if none of these signs appear. Check pipe temperature to make sure the water inside the pipe hasn’t frozen. When water freezes, it expands on a molecular level. Steel, however, does not; so, if the temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, there is a chance that your lines could crack or burst anyway.

Preventing Frozen Pipes

The best way to avoid frozen pipes is to take preventive measures. If there are openings or holes near lines, it is crucial to patch them up because when temperatures hit below zero, even exposure via a small gap could freeze water.

Another critical factor to consider with your water system is the insulation or temperature regulation surrounding the pipes. Check typically unheated areas in your home like the garage, basement, attic, or crawlspace, and insulate these areas properly. You can also protect around the pipe directly if these areas are too large to warm the entire space adequately. You can also use this measure as added protection to other preventive measures.

Pipes without a heat source are the most at-risk of exploding (e.g., lines outside the perimeter of a house or building’s insulation). However, there are some things you should avoid, like trying to thaw a frozen pipe by yourself. You might injure yourself, cause a fire, or worsen the situation, potentially causing more damage. Frozen pipes require quick action as they pose a real threat of bursting if they remain unattended.

Don’t wait and watch — act quickly and contact licensed and experienced professionals like the Denver plumbers with Done Plumbing & Heating to help you now.