A burst pipe can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to your home. It can lead to water dripping everywhere, flooding your house and damaging your furnishings.
In order to avoid this, you need to be aware of the factors that can lead to pipes bursting. Here are some tips that can help you avoid a burst pipe this winter: 1. Keep Your Home Warm.
1. Keep Your Home Warm
Pipes in outbuildings such as garages and sheds can be at risk of freezing during frigid winter weather, as well as pipes inside homes that run through exterior walls or in unheated areas. This can lead to expensive water damage that requires professional repair and even structural replacement.
The temperature outside needs to be below freezing for water pipes to freeze, so the best thing you can do is keep your home warm. It’s important not to drop the temperature too low at night, as this will cool the air and put your pipes at risk of freezing.
You can also keep your home warm by keeping kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors open. This allows heated air to circulate underneath the cabinets and keep the pipes warm. You can also use insulation sleeves that are easily available at hardware stores to insulate your pipes. These are cheap and easy to install, but can make a huge difference in the effectiveness of your home’s heating.
2. Install Drain Covers
With temperatures expected to dip into the teens, area plumbing experts say you should take precautions to avoid pipes bursting in your home.
Donald Stroud, a Georgia plumbing expert, says older homes tend to be more susceptible to freezing pipes. Those with buried piping are typically safer. He recommends keeping warm water dripping to keep the circulation flowing.
He also advises wrapping any exposed piping that could freeze in unheated areas, like basements. Pipes that are close to exterior walls can be particularly vulnerable. He suggests using foam insulation, which is available at most hardware stores. You can also wrap outside piping with pool noodles cut down the center.
It’s important to know where the main water shut-off valve is in case a pipe bursts. Oliphant recommends that you show any other family members in the household where this valve is located. Also, drain all hoses and turn off the gas to the water heater.
3. Check Your Home’s Thermostat
When the temperature drops, your pipes can become exposed and prone to freezing
and bursting. This is especially true for outside spigots and water lines, as well as indoor plumbing in unheated spaces like basements, attics, garages, or behind exterior walls. These pipes can be particularly dangerous because they are not insulated, making them more susceptible to freezing temperatures.
A simple way to prevent this from happening is to leave a faucet (preferably one that drips) running at all times during the cold weather. The constant movement of water through the pipe helps to keep it from becoming frozen, and the water pressure keeps it warm enough to avoid a burst.
Another tip is to make sure that everyone in your household knows where your home’s shut-off valve is located. This is important so that if a pipe does burst, you can quickly turn off the water supply and minimize damage. Lastly, it’s also a good idea to consider purchasing home insurance so that you can have funds available if your home experiences water damage due to a burst pipe.
4. Check Your Water Heater
We’ve all heard the horror stories of homeowners who return from a vacation to find water pouring into their home due to a burst pipe or leak. Most of these issues could have been prevented if the homeowners had regularly checked their pipes.
Homeowners can spot a pipe that has burst by looking for large puddles around the home’s interior and outside walls. Other signs include weak faucet streams and loud gurgling sounds coming from your plumbing. Turn off your water and call a plumber immediately if you suspect a burst pipe. Https://www.fixitrightplumbing.com.au/plumber-geelong/blocked-drains-geelong/ and sites alike can be extremely resourceful information for plumbing professionals.
Other preventative measures homeowners can take to avoid burst pipes include caulking the areas of your house where pipes enter and leave, installing foam pipe insulation on exposed piping, and closing foundation vents. Additionally, reducing your home’s water pressure can help prevent pipes from freezing and bursting. A plumber can evaluate your home’s water pressure and optimize it for your household. They can also check for clogs caused by hair, paper towels, cotton swabs, kitty litter and “flushable” wipes.
