Cold or winter temperatures cause home pipes to freeze, because of which the problem of burst pipes skyrockets. According to Lake Elsinore Plumbers, burst pipes are one of the common issues of property damage, especially in the winter season. The reason is that the pipes have to tolerate a lot of pressure that causes them to burst, which welcomes flooding in the home. This problem of water damage due to bursting pipes is widespread in areas where there is no one to turn off the home's main water line.
Moreover, this issue is expected in the warmer season but mainly in homes with plastic and copper pipes in their plumbing system. But if you want to prevent the issue of a frozen pipe, you must take some proactive steps that prevent this problem.
So, let's deep dive into those tips, which will help you to save your money and time both. Let's get started: -
1. Turn on the heat of your property
If you, as the homeowner, are out of your home for a longer period of time, ensure to turn on the heat of the home. However, it is pretty difficult to keep the heat on as it will offer you a high energy bill, but you have to take this step for safety purposes. It will prevent the plumbing pipes from freezing and save you lots of money on costly repairs.
But ensure not to keep the heat at a high temperature which means set it below 50F. This will offer enough heat to the pipes to keep them warm and in preventing pipe bursting.
2. Insulate the pipes
There are a number of plumbing pipes in the home that offer water to various parts like basements, crawl spaces, and kitchen sink and they are not hidden inside the wall. So, in order to avoid the problem of bursting pipes, ensure to insulate them to maintain a temperature above 32 degrees F.
3. Seal all the leaks in your home
If you know there are some leaks in your home that allow cold air inside the home, locate and seal them properly. Make sure to look at the leaks around the dryer vents, electrical wiring and many more places that are coming from the outside.
4. Allow the home faucets to drip
If you are worried that the plumbing pipes will freeze, you can open any faucet in the home so that water will start dripping slightly. By opening the faucet, the pipes will release pressure from the plumbing system of the home. On top of that, if the single faucet has both hot and cold lines, then open both of them to relieve pressure.
5. Ensure to apply heating tape
Every home has plumbing pipes that are not covered with anything for protection. So, if you live in an area where the temperature falls, then take the help of heating tape. This tape works as the electric blanket for the pipes as it supplies heat to the pipes, especially to those pipes that are at high risk of bursting.
Lake Elsinore Plumbers suggests opting for that tape that turns on and off automatically when it senses heat is needed by water pipes. However, there is one type of heating tape that is plugged when in use and unplugged when not in use. Ensure not to opt for this type of tape as they are dangerous.
6. Secure all outdoor hoses, valves and faucets
Before the winter season starts, make sure to disconnect all the garden hoses. Apart from that, make sure to use only the indoor shut-off valve and drain water directly from the water pipes that are connected to the outside faucets. These steps will reduce the chances of freezing pipes.
What to do when pipes freeze?
According to Lake Elsinore, Plumbers' plumbing pipes do not always burst when they get frozen. But if your home pipes are frozen, ensure to take the below steps: -
Call a certified and licensed Lake Elsinore Plumber as soon as possible.
Don't use any of the electrical appliances that use water.
Ensure not to apply flames to thaw pipes.
First of all, shut off the main water supply.
Conclusion:
These are some of the steps which you must take to prevent the issue of frozen pipes. In case you are confused about what to do when a pipe gets frozen, then call Lake Elsinore Plumbers immediately to save your home. Contact Us Today if you want to reach to us.
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