In these cold winter months, we hear one fear loud and clear from homeowners every day; frozen pipes. The fear of freezing pipes lurks in the back of every homeowners mind, but frequently they are unsure how to act on it. Since it’s not too difficult to insulate your pipes and prevent freezing, let’s look at a few of the most common methods!
Step one: Identify pipes at risk
Not every pipe is doomed to freeze in frigid temperatures, but some are certainly more at-risk than others. How can you identify potential trouble?
Star by looking for any pipes that are routed through exterior walls, basements, or attics. In today’s energy-efficient homes, basements and attics are closer to exterior temperature than ever. Pipes routed through exterior walls must be placed on the interior (warmed, or conditioned side) of the insulation, and not on the exterior side. Any pipes leading to exterior faucets are particularly vulnerable, and those faucets should be shut off before temperatures get below freezing. If the air surrounding the pipe is close to exterior temperature, and that exterior temperature is going to be below freezing remperatures. then it’s at-risk. If it is exposed to moving air (drafts) then the risk becomes even more urgent.
Identifying the kind of pipes that are at-risk isn’t difficult. Where homeowners can run into trouble, is when they fail to account for each individual pipe. If this sounds confusing or difficult because of obstructions or lack of experience, then it’s best to call a professional to help you determine the piping layout of your house. Once you know where all your pipes are, you will be able to protect them and prevent freezing
Step two: Freeze Prevention
Now that you know where your pipes are and which ones are at risk, it’s time to protect them. There are several methods for protecting your pipes, including:
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Insulation
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External heat sources
- Emergency measures
Each option has it’s own benefits and applications, so let’s check them out.
Foam or Rubber Insulation
The easiest and lowest-cost freeze protection for pipes is foam insulation. It is usually sold in 6 foot sections and varies in diameter to fit specific pipe sizes. Foam is a great, inexpensive way to insulate long, straight sections of pipe. It’s primary purpose, is to keep cold water cold and warm water warm. With a little care, foam can even cover elbows and T-sections. This will greatly slow the rate of cooling, particularly in areas subject to draft. However, with prolonged exposure to cold temperatures, foam alone won’t prevent freezing. If you have exposed copper water pipes, it’s best to insulate them anyway. Applied properly, it will prevent condensation on cold water lines, and minimize heat loss from hot water lines.
Caulk or Expanding Foam
Inspect areas around any outdoor fixtures, or any wall penetrations. Seal all cracks with caulking. Fill any gaps with expanding foam, then seal with caulk. Be sure to check around outdoor faucets, electrical boxes, dryer and fan vents. Even small gaps can allow enough cold air in to freeze nearby pipes.
External Heat Sources
Heat tape is the take-no-chances option to prevent pipes from freezing, especially if you have external piping, or pipes in very cold and uninsulated areas. Heat tape should be applied either in a straight line or by wrapping it around the pipe following the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure that you NEVER cross the wire back over itself. This could short out the wire and potentially cause a fire. When you’ve finished wrapping the wire, cover it in insulation (as specified by the manufacturer) and plug it in. Rolls of 1/2″ thick fiberglass insulation are available just for this purpose. Don’t skip this final step!
The heat tapes that we stock at Koopman Lumber will keep watering flowing in temperatures as low as -40° to -50° Fahrenheit, making it a great permanent solution!
Emergency Measures
Now that you’ve read the blog, you’re determined to go out and get everything you need to prevent your pipes from freezing. Unfortunately, tonights temperatures are going to be sub-zero, you have no time to prepare! What do you do now?
Here are some simple but effective preventive measures you can take right now to help prevent pipes from freezing.
- Disconnect all outdoor hoses. Locate the interior shutoff for each exterior faucet, and make sure they’re off. Then open the outdoor faucet, and allow any water to drain out.
- Keep garage doors closed if you have pipes running through that space.
- Make sure all irrigation or pool supply lines are drained and shut off.
- Leave the interior thermostat at 55° or higher. Yes, it will cost a little more to run, but that cost will seem insignificant compared to the repair cost of a burst pipe.
- Identify the location of all the water shutoff valves. You’ll be prepared to stop the water flow right away if a pipe bursts.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate among the pipes and fixtures. In extreme conditions, place a portable electric heater facing the open cabinet doors, and set it to run on a LOW setting. Be very careful not to place it near anything flammable, or on anything but a level, stable surface.
- Turn both hot and cold faucets near outside walls enough to allow a small trickle of water to flow.
Wrap-up
To avoid the cost and damage caused by burst pipes, take some preventive steps to protect your home or business. Come see us at a Koopman location near you. We’ll make sure you find the best product for your needs!
