How to Prevent Your Pipes from Freezing This Winter

by Kevin Smith Author

Frozen pipes are a nasty consequence of winter weather, and possibly one of the worst ones because of the exorbitant repair costs. You should do all you can this winter to prevent your pipes from freezing. It's important for you to understand the risks, learn how to prevent a problem, and have access to cheap plumbing in Canton, GA, for any immediate repair or replacement needs.

How Pipes Freeze

As winter continues, freezing temperatures are more likely. This can cause the water in your pipes to either freeze through or develop frost. Because ice expands, the force of frozen water can cause your pipes to crack or even burst. This will result in flooding and unusable pipes.

The Risks

Certain pipes are unfortunately more freeze-prone than others. This has less to do with the material than the location of the pipe. Exposed pipes in areas like the basement or attic are not treated with air generated from your heater, so they are highly freeze-prone. Also, pipes in exterior walls face the brunt of the cold air against the exterior walls of your home from outdoors. This makes them more freeze-prone than the insulated pipes that run though interior walls. Also, plumbing in the exterior of your home faces a tremendous risk of freezing, including pipes that supply your sprinkler line and exterior faucets.

But that's not the worst of it. Frozen pipes don't just exert outward pressure, they exert pressure throughout your plumbing system. This means that when a specific section of your plumbing freezes, your entire plumbing system that is connected to that frozen pipe will be at risk of bursting. There are plenty of stories of frozen garden hoses causing interior pipes to burst.

Preventing a Freeze

There are plenty of ways you can prevent frozen pipes. First, take in all garden hoses and store them dry. Second, consider installing frost-proof spigots. You can also close the shut-off valve that accesses exterior faucets. Then, open and drain the spigots to ensure no moisture lingers inside them.

Consider insulating pipes in your attic and basement to jacket them from winter temperatures. You can even buy heat tape to wrap over exposed pipes.

Other simple methods to prevent freezing include keeping your furnace running at a comfortable temperature, and draining your plumbing system before a freeze. You might even consider draining your water heater and toilets. Before you have to replace frozen pipes with cheap plumbing in Canton, GA, contact a plumber to help winterize your plumbing. It's a small investment that can save you big money.