Unfortunately for many of us it is the time of year when our home pipes can become frozen causing a myriad of problems including no heat or hot water, not to mention the possibility of the pipes bursting which could end up costing you a fortune in repair bills. In this article I will discuss some of the reasons that frozen pipes burst as well as proactive action that you can take to prevent your pipes from freezing in the first place.
As water freezes it will expand and occupy more space as a solid then it will as a liquid. Most water pipes are made from copper or plastic. They are rigid, and will not tend to expand with the ice, thus causing the pipes to burst. A frozen water pipe will usually have no flow from the faucet because of blockage caused by the ice. When this occurs, the water will stop flowing causing pressure to build up between the frozen area and the closed faucet. When this pressure increases, it becomes more than the pipe can bear. Any thin area within the pipe can be weak enough for the pressure to be relieved and the pipes to burst or break.
One of the most effective methods of prevention is to insulate the pipes. You can also seal cracks and openings where cold air may affect the pipes. Your inlet pipe is the point at which water enters your home whether it be from a well or the city. To insulate this pipe you can use pipe jacketing. All you need to do is cut it to the length you need and secure it with electrical tape.
Another option is to use heat tape. The heat tape draws a small current from an electrical outlet which will warm the pipe for a short distance. Simply wrap it around the pipe and plug it into an outlet. Another method to warm the piping is to hang a construction light very close to the inlet pipe. The heat produced from the lamp should be enough to keep the pipe from freezing. Just be sure that the lamp is not actually touching the pipe.
As a last precaution, leaving a faucet dripping can prevent the pipe behind it from cracking, because pressure will not be able to build to very high levels.
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