When temperatures drop, the pipes start freezing and water pressure drops. But this is not inevitable. Read this post to find out how to prevent pipe damage when the cold weather arrives.
How Cold Weather Affects The Pipes In Your Home
When winter arrives, the cold weather can have a big impact on your home’s plumbing. Freezing temperatures can cause pipes to crack, leading to leaks and costly repairs. In order to prevent cracked pipes and other cold-weather plumbing issues, it’s important to take a few proactive steps.
Should You Drain Pipes To Keep Them From Freezing?
The “should I drain my pipes to keep them from freezing” is a question that many people ask prior to and during the winter. The answer depends on how much water you have in your plumbing system. If you don’t want to risk it, then it’s best to drain the pipes before they freeze.
Our first taste of cold, winter weather arrived this week, and it seems that the chilly temperatures are here to stay for the time being. If there’s a little covering of snow on the ground, the air will become even colder, allowing temperatures to drop below freezing—now that’s cold!
We saw a lot of frozen pipes last year, and although we’re available to help with any plumbing problem, we wanted to provide you with some advice for our first significant cold front.
- Make sure to insulate any pipes that aren’t heated, such as those in your garage, crawl space, attic, or other unheated places.
- Any air leaks near external pipes should be sealed. Cold air might come inside and freeze your pipes if these air leaks aren’t properly sealed.
- Remove your garden hose(s) and turn off the water supply to your home. To accomplish this correctly, follow these steps.
- If you’re going out of town, don’t lower the temperature below 55 degrees.
- Last but not least, ensure sure you and everyone else in your house understands where the main cutoff valve is located. If a pipe bursts in your home, the first thing you should do is turn off the water to avoid more damage!
We understand that accidents sometimes happen, therefore if you find yourself with a frozen pipe, follow some of these easy instructions.
Wrapping Pipes To Prevent Them From Freezing
A way to prevent your pipes from freezing during a bout of very cold weather is to wrap them. By doing this, you can help to prevent cracked pipes and other damage from cold weather.
There are several different methods for wrapping your pipes in cold weather. One of the most common techniques is to use foam insulation or pipe sleeves. Both of these materials are effective at keeping cold air out and preventing freezing.
This post hopefully gives you some ideas as to how to protect your pipes from freezing temperatures. The “how to keep outdoor water pipes from freezing” is a helpful article that will also teach you how to prevent your outdoor water pipes from freezing.
Your pipes may not be frozen, but there could be an issue with stagnant water. For, see our post Flushing Bacteria From Stagnant Building Water Piping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can cold weather cause plumbing problems?
A: Yes.
Can cold weather affect sewers?
A: Yes.
Should I turn off water if pipes are frozen?
A: If you are worried about the pipes being frozen, it is better to be safe than sorry. You can run a hot water heater in your house if you like, but it is best to turn off any faucets or sinks that are near those frozen pipes and do not use them until they thaw out.
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