What Causes Your Water Pipes to Freeze?
The main reason behind freezing pipes in your house is proximity to the air outside. Particularly, if they get situated near outdoor walls with no insulation, the air inside the walls can become cold enough to freeze the liquid inside the pipes. For example, in a sustained cold spell with temperatures regularly below 10C or less, the walls might quickly drop below freezing or even 0 degrees C. It is because the water inside the pipes isn’t moving. When it gets below 0 degrees inside the line, it’ll begin to form a solid and eventually turn frozen. It’s a significant issue.
How To Prevent Frozen Water Pipes
You can take a few actions to stop frozen pipes from entering your house during winter. All that’s left is to protect them from freezing. The most effective way to do this is to stop freezing air in the vicinity of the water lines. It usually requires adequate insulation around and in the area of the pipes. However, sometimes, there may be obstacles to achieving this objective. If walls surround the lines, some demolition might require exposing the pipes. If you can reveal the pipe, then try to insulate it with the tube with foam insulation. It is sold in long pieces and is pre-sliced to allow you to stretch it to fit over the pipe.
Air leaking out of the wall cavity makes the temperature drop within it. The less chance of cold air entering, the less likely it is for pipes to be frozen. Any action you can take to stop the air leakage prevents pipes from becoming frigid enough that they freeze. Air sealing could be done by caulking all gaps, cracks, and holes you see within walls. It is also possible to expand foam inside the cavity.
If there’s a method to allow warmer air to circulate the pipes for water, it can aid in keeping them from freezing in the event of a severe cold storm. It can include maintaining doors to your cupboards open where pipes are. Another method allows water to run slowly or drip on susceptible lines. Moving water is more likely not to be frozen. Make sure that your sink is well-lit to avoid flooding.
To What Should You Do If Your Pipes Freeze?
If you awake to find that one or more pipes in your home are frozen, There are many ways to explore. However, before you do that, you must exercise caution: be highly cautious, no matter what you decide to do. The freezing of a pipe could lead to massive issues that you’ve never imagined about damaged pipes or flooding.
If you can pinpoint the area where the pipe is frozen, you can try to defrost it in a variety of methods:
Allow Warm Air Inside to Reach the Line That Is Frozen
Opening cupboard doors near the pipe may raise the temperature to the point when the water melts, allowing the line to flow again.
Try Pushing Warm Air into the Pipe That Is Frozen
Using a hairdryer was a famous trick in the past. It can melt the ice inside the pipe, provided you know where exactly it’s frozen.
Do not attempt anything to harm your pipes and cause them to burst or break after thawing. The result is much more trouble and messes in your hands. Always know where the water supply is to your residence if you have to stop it.
What to Do If Your Pipes Freeze?
Do not attempt to melt frozen pipes using any unintentional flame. It can be a considerable risk of fire. There are flammable materials on your walls and even close to your fixed lines. Do not take chances. Do not attempt to warm pipes frozen with a fire of any type. There are horrifying reports that come out each winter because of this type of thing. Do not try it.
Contact Ottawa Plumbing Service for Your Frozen Pipe Issue
Have you tried several solutions for frozen pipes but haven’t been successful? For domestic use, contact a skilled plumber. They are qualified and experienced in re-hydrating and re-running your lines without causing damage. They will help you pinpoint the exact spot of the frozen pipes and then correct it safely and efficiently.
Our office gets located in Ottawa, so if you have an emergency with frozen pipes and are looking for a plumber in Ottawa, contact Ottawa Plumbing Service at (613) 317-1682 & Email: info@ottawaplumbingservice.com. We’re happy to assist.
