Keep Your Pipes From Freezing With These Winter Prep Tips!
Keep Your Pipes From Freezing With These Winter Prep Tips!
Dipping temperatures mean the days are numbered for exterior home maintenance. Yet, for those who dilly-dally, it could be a costly and temperamental state of affairs should temperatures freeze your residential and commercial plumbing systems.
We checked in with residential and commercial plumbing professionals to see what building owners can do to prevent costly plumbing services due to frozen pipes. Here is what they had to say.
Covering Crawl Spaces
Crawl spaces are notorious for being cold and damp and are the perfect hiding place for deteriorating plumbing systems. In addition, as it gets colder, these areas leave exposed piping vulnerable to freezing.
The answer is to cover and seal the crawl space against the elements—vapour barrier the floors and walls, leaving no gaps around equipment, etc. Seal outdoor vents and openings to prevent cold air from penetrating the space. Before adding a thermal barrier to the walls, fill and seal any cracks to prevent moisture and additional exposure.
Letting Faucets Drip
Exterior faucets are one of the primary sources of frozen pipes. For instance, leaving hose attachments or dripping water allows cold air to seep into residential and commercial plumbing systems to freeze internal pipes.
By storing water hoses, firmly closing off water valves, and using professional plumbing services to fix ongoing leaks, you protect your building throughout the winter and avoid aggravation and damage from frozen or burst pipes.
Insulating
Another prime suspect in frozen pipes is inadequate insulation. Older buildings, poor DIY projects, and shady contractors can leave insulation sorely lacking and not meet current building codes or inspections.
The result is the building is grossly under-protected, creating the perfect circumstances for disaster. Then, plumbing installed along exterior walls is susceptible to freezing—or worse, bursting—causing water damage and a great deal of inconvenience.
At a bare minimum, ensure proper insulation protects all pipe fittings that lead outdoors and rely on professionals experienced in all residential and commercial plumbing.
Keeping Thermostat to a Set Temperature
It is no surprise that people try to save money whenever and wherever possible. So when they leave for holidays or perhaps pause the use of home appliances, etc., the temptation is to lower the thermostat to save on energy bills.
That would be a mistake.
You never know when a storm or sudden drop in temperature will create havoc in unoccupied buildings. Without reasonable heat to maintain a steady internal temperature, the pipes could freeze solid and burst without anyone knowing, while water dramatically damages everything it comes in contact with.
Signs Your Pipes Are Frozen
How do you know if your pipes are frozen? One of the first indicators is a reduction of water flow from plumbing fixtures like the tap, toilet, or hose. Sometimes this is due to city maintenance or an unpaid water bill. However, if you notice frost on pipes, it is a good indication that they are frozen. Furthermore, gurgling or noisy pipes can indicate ice moving through the system.
Without attending to frozen pipes, you risk them bursting, which gushes water throughout walls, floors, and anywhere it can reach. Water damage can be extensive and rather expensive.
Avoid the Unnecessary Headache and Maintain Your Pipes Now!
Abraham Lincoln once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This means to say... being ahead of the game is far less costly than needing repairs after ignoring maintenance.
Trust none other than Wade Roberts Plumbing in Victoria, BC, for reliable, honest plumbing services. They will inspect, assess, and repair your residential and commercial plumbing systems to protect against freezing and water damage.
Schedule your inspection
online or by calling 778-749-0979 before it gets any colder!
