Prepare for winter by maintaining a 55-degree thermostat, letting water drip to prevent freezing, locating shut-off valves, insulating pipes, and opening cupboards for warmth. In freezing weather, turn off outside spigots and drain lines.
If pipes freeze, shut off the main valve, open faucets, and use a hair dryer for safe thawing. Inspect thawed pipes for leaks. Learn to find the main shut-off valve quickly. In fall, seal drafts, insulate pipes, and drain irrigation systems. If pipes burst, shut off the main valve and call a plumber immediately.
Protect your home from costly repairs and prevent frozen pipes in winter by following these essential steps.
How To Prevent Frozen Pipes In Winter
Below, you will read about the steps that you can take to prevent the frozen pipes:
- Set home thermostats above 55 degrees during cold weather.
- Drip cold water in the farthest faucet from your main valve. Moving water keeps pipes from freezing.
- Find shut-off valves for emergencies.
- Insulate pipes in unheated areas.
- Open cupboards and vanities to warm pipes.
- Close the inside valves, which control the water supply.
- Open the outside fixtures to allow water to drain out.
- Keep the outside valve open so the water remaining in the pipe can expand without causing a break.
- When freezing weather is around the corner, turn off water to outdoor spigots and drain all water from the line.
Warming Up The Frozen Pipes:
Read about how you can thaw the frozen pipes below. Check these steps:
- First, ask your neighbour if they’re having the same water problem. If they are, it might be a more significant issue. But if their water is running, your pipes might be frozen.
- Turn off the water at the main shut-off valve right away.
- Open a faucet to let water flow once the ice melts. This helps melt more ice.
- Use a hair dryer to warm up the frozen pipe. Don’t use anything that could cause a fire or an open flame, like torches or heaters. Also, avoid making the ice melt too fast.
- Slowly turn the water back on once the pipes are thawed. Check all the joints for leaks and look for cracks caused by freezing.
- Look for leaks or pools of water – they mean a pipe burst or cracked.
- Call a licenced plumber if you can’t find the frozen part, reach it, or thaw it. Check for other frozen pipes, especially those by outer walls or where the water enters the building.
How Do I Find My Main Water Shut Off Valve?
You must find the main valve where the water comes into your house, often in the basement or a concrete box near the street. If it’s outside, lift the cover with a large screwdriver.
Turn off the water using a pipe or crescent wrench. Mark the valve with paint or tape to find it easily in the dark.
If your home’s pipes burst, shut off the main water valve and call a licenced plumber immediately. Call your water utility’s customer service line immediately if your water metre freezes.
Do not warm up your water metre. This can result in extensive damage. Water utilities will replace outside water metres. It is their responsibility. Water metres inside or outside homes and buildings may freeze when temperatures fall below freezing.
Fall Pipe Protection
When it gets cold in the fall, it is when to worry about pipes freezing. You must prepare for how the weather affects your home’s water pipes. When the water inside the lines turns into ice, it takes up more space and puts a lot of pressure on the pipe walls.
When water freezes and gets bigger, it can break pipes, and fixing them can cost a lot of money. Pipes exposed to freezing temperatures are most susceptible to damage, including those outside of the home and water supply lines in unheated areas like basements, attics, and kitchen cabinets.
- Take off, empty, and put away garden hoses.
- Seal gaps around fixtures, close crawl spaces, and add insulation to walls and attics.
- Use a pipe sleeve for water pipes without insulation. You can find these at building supply stores.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to drain in-ground lawn irrigation systems.
- Let water utilities know about broken or missing metre lids to avoid frozen metres.
Water utilities are responsible for water mains and pipelines connecting to your home, but not pipes on your property. Call a plumber immediately for repairs if a pipe bursts on your property.
Final Thoughts:
Protecting pipes from freezing is vital. Keep home temperature above 55 degrees, let faucets drip, and insulate pipes in unheated areas. In freezing weather, turn off outside spigots, drain water lines, and know emergency shut-off valves.
To warm up the frozen pipes, consult neighbours, shut off the main valve, open a faucet, use a hair dryer, and check for leaks. Identify the main water shut-off valve, mark it, and shut it off if pipes burst. Remove garden hoses, seal drafts, and insulate pipes in the fall. If dealing with a burst pipe, promptly call a licenced plumber for repairs.
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