Brrrr! It has been cold outside this winter. As low temperatures continue to plow through the PNW, our experts are here to help you with keeping your water pipes from freezing. As soon as it hits 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, it’s time to go on prevention patrol.
Problems with Frozen Pipes:
Ruptured Pipes – the biggest problem with frozen pipes is that ice expands and can lead to pipe failure and when you aren’t aware of the problem, the problem can lead to even more problems and unwanted repairs.
Water damage – failed pipes mean water leakage and water everywhere. This can cause extensive repairs from ceilings to floors and everything in between. Water does not hold back and spreads rapidly throughout a building, sometimes traveling from floor to floor and flooding in basements.
Mold – Sometimes water leakage isn’t noticed right away. In this case, dampness can spread and fester causing mold, smells, and damage.
Extensive repairs – All of these problems add up. It’s a much better and cost-effective solution to prevent your pipes from freezing in the first place.
Signs and Symptoms:
Bad faucet and drain smell – If things are getting clogged or backed up in your pipes, they will start to smell foul. Beyond that, mold can grow and smell too.
Frost on the outside of the pipes – If your pipes are frosty on the outside, this is an obvious sign that something is not right.
Water temperature not changing – If you turned the hot water on and all you get is cold for several minutes without change, this may be a sign your pipes are already frozen.
No water or little water coming out of faucets – The most common and easy-to-recognize sign of frozen pipes is water not coming out of the faucets because that probably means ice is preventing the water from running through.
The Pipe Prevention Steps we Recommend
- Know which pipes have the most exposure to the cold like exterior pipes. Some pipes are given ventilation from the air outside to prevent mold, but when the air is too cold, then the pipes are impacted at a greater degree than the need for ventilation. It is best to blockade the hole for ventilation in freezing temperatures and remove the blockage in warmer conditions.
- Locate water shut off valves in case of emergency. You will want to know how to turn the water off in case anything happens so water damage is kept at a minimum.
- Away on a winter vacation? Keep the heat on in your home around 55-60 degrees Fahrenheit. Your pipes will thank you for keeping them at reasonable temperatures even though you may not be in the house yourself. Nothing is worse than returning home after a wonderful vacation to a damaged home.
- Keep the thermostat around the same temperature during the day and night. Keeping the house at an even temperature in freezing months may increase your utility bill, but it is a much better problem to have than replacing floors, walls, and/or ceilings if a pipe bursts.
- Close the garage doors. Some water pipes run through the garage and the cold air can easily get in and be difficult to regulate with open doors. This goes for windows too. Try your best to keep the cold air out and the warm air in.
- If you are coming back to a particularly cold home and just turned on the the thermostat, try opening the cabinets with exposed pipes to get the warm air circulating around them more efficiently.
- Run water through the pipes. Running water is one of the best ways to prevent pipes from freezing if you have concerns about the dropping temperatures and aren’t sure where to start.
Too Late for Prevention? Take Action Right Away
The longer you leave pipes frozen, the bigger the potential problems that could occur. Keep the faucet open and running to help thaw the pipes. Apply heat with a warm wet towel or blow dryer, but not with anything that has an open flame.
Leaks or burst pipes? Call a plumber right away. You can’t always prevent an at-home frozen pipe disaster and sometimes the smart thing to do is call in an expert.