Frozen Tips! Stop a Winter Plumbing Deficit with These Seven Home-Owner Tips:
- Get rid of any water in all outdoor pipes that could freeze, such as sprinkler lines for water supply. The pipes frozen beneath the ground can be complicated to find and repair. Get your pool winterized with a specialist.
- If the pipes on the outside wall get located inside cabinets, close the doors so that warmer air can circulate. The colder basements, laundry rooms, and cold rooms are the most susceptible to freezing pipes.
- Remove any hoses from outside your home. Then, drain the hoses and put them away in your basement or garage. The cold winter temperatures can cause cracks in the plastic hoses. Shut off the indoor valves that supply the outdoor lines, then turn on the taps for outdoor use. It is not a good idea to have water remain inside these pipes, which will leak through your foundation. We suggest the installation of “frost-free” water bibs for hoses. Please get in touch with us to discuss details.
- Insulate around vents on the second floor and light fixtures to prevent heat from entering the attic. There is a considerable heat loss due to plumbing leaks in ceiling fixtures.
- On colder days, you should let your faucets drip cold water slowly. Unfortunately, there will be water wasted here. The small amount of water flow can make it more difficult for your pipes to freeze. It isn’t the most effective approach, so if possible, speak with a skilled plumber like those at Ottawa Plumbing Service for advice on freezing-proofing your water lines.
- Have a trusted neighbor or friend inspect your house daily to ensure your furnace is functioning. They can check for any leaks brought on by frozen pipes or any other signs of damaged lines brought on by the weather. Ensure your furnace is operating and your house is warm. If you are away, leave your home temperature at or above 55F or 13C.
- Set up a lamp with 60-watt bulbs in the smaller spaces where you’re worried about frozen pipes, mainly when pipes get located across an outside wall. This bulb can generate the right amount of heat to avoid freezing the pipes within this region, provided the space isn’t too large. Install insulation between the lines and the outer wall as much as possible.
What to Do If You Come Across a Freezed Pipe
If you suspect a frozen pipe within your business, home, or cottage, locate the broken line and expose the whole space to the warm air inside as soon as possible.
Get rid of any water, and if required, shut down the water supply to your home to prevent further destruction.
Call a professional plumber like Ottawa Plumbing Service at (613) 317-1682 or email us at info@ottawaplumbingservice.com immediately. We can help.
