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Frozen Pipes
It's Plumb Freezing!
When the temperature dips below freezing, the weather can not only do a number on your pipes; the resulting damage can do an even bigger number on your home and your belongings. Plumbing and drain experts offer the following tips for preventing your pipes from freezing, and specific steps for safely thawing frozen pipes and winterizing the plumbing system for a vacated house.
The One Time You Want Your Faucet to Drip
If a severe cold snap hits, prevent freezing and subsequent bursting
of pipes by following these suggestions:
- Keep a trickle of water running from the faucets.
- Beam a heat lamp or small heater at exposed pipes.
- Wrap uninsulated pipes with newspapers, heating wires, foam, or self-adhesive insulating tape.
- Keep doors ajar between heated and unheated rooms.
- Keep basement heated.
- Turn off water to outside faucets and sprinkler systems and then drain pipe.
- Cover outside faucets.
Thawing Pipes with Safety in Mind
Blocked or restricted water flow is the first sign that you may have
a frozen pipe problem. If you don't act quickly, your pipes will burst
as the water expands. But if you are able to act in a timely fashion once
your pipes have frozen, chances are you can thaw them before they burst.
Here's what you do.
First steps
At the first sign of a blockage, open the faucet. Finding the blockage
is critical. Trace the supply pipe to where it runs through exterior walls
or other unheated parts of your house, such as the basement or crawl space.
Careful now...
Even if a frozen pipe is already damaged, you can save money and trouble
by thawing it and turning off the water before a plumber can get there
to help you. When it comes to thawing frozen pipes, it pays to be especially
careful, as people trying to thaw pipes with the wrong equipment are a
major cause of home fires.
- Thaw the pipes as quickly as possible after you discover they are frozen.
- Leave the main water supply valve open. Incoming water pressure will help remove loosened ice.
- Start at the faucet when thawing and work towards the source.
- When loosening frozen connections, instead of using a wrench to for
ce nuts and couplings frozen in place, douse the connection with penetrating
oil. Wait half an hour; then loosen with a wrench.
- Use one of these six methods to carefully thaw a pipe. Be sure to
shield flammable materials from the heat. And while applying heat, leave
the faucet open so water can drain.
| Electric iron |
This provides the most concentrated heat to thaw a pipe. You
should lash the iron to the pipe with wire (never use combustible
materials such as rope or string). Move the iron along the pipe
as the thawing begins. CAUTION: Be careful not to touch the heated
areas of the pipe.
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| Hair dryer |
Use an electric hair dryer to blow warm air directly on the suspected frozen area. |
| Heat lamp |
Shine an infrared heat lamp directly on the suspected frozen
area. For added efficiency, place a piece of sheet metal or aluminum
foil behind the pipe while heating. |
| Soldering iron |
You may find that a soldering iron can be useful where an electric
iron won't fit. You can lash it to the pipe in the same way you
would lash an iron. |
| Heating cable |
Wrap a heating cable around the pipe in the suspected frozen
area. |
| Boiling water |
Pour boiling water on the pipe after wrapping rags around the
suspected frozen area. This method is slow and messy and may take
many gallons of water. CAUTION: Boiling water can cause serious
burns. Be extremely careful when transporting and pouring boiling
water. |
CAUTION: Never use a blowtorch to thaw frozen pipes. This is the cause
of most home fires that start while trying to accomplish this task.
To prevent a repeat
- Once the ice melts and the pipes cool, prevent them from refreezing
by jacketing them with foam insulation.
- Wrap all pipes that pass through unheated spaces.
- Make sure that pipes buried outdoors are about 12 inches below the
frost line and are wrapped with foam insulation extending below the
frost line.
- And as mentioned above, if you expect a freeze, leave exposed taps
dripping. (The sound of a dripping faucet isn't nearly as irritating
as the aftereffects of a burst pipe!)
Winterizing Your Plumbing System
Homeowners used to simply turn down the thermostat in a vacated house
for the winter. But due to prohibitively high energy costs, today's homeowners
often opt to close down the plumbing system entirely. Winterizing your
plumbing is a virtually cost-free alternative to frozen pipes. Here's
how you can do it, too:
- Turn off the main shutoff valve or have the water company turn off
service to the house.
- Starting at the top floor, open all faucets, both indoors and outside.
- When the last of the water has dripped from the taps, open the plug
at the main shutoff valve if possible (you may have to contact the water
company), and let it drain.
- Turn off the power or gas to the water heater and open its drain valve.
- To freezeproof the system, empty toilet bowls and tanks.
- Remove the clean-out plugs on all sink traps or remove the traps, if necessary.
- Once emptied, replace them and fill with non-toxic antifreeze (typically
available at any RV dealer) mixed with water in the proportions specified
by the manufacturer.
- You won't be able to drain tub and shower traps. Instead, add at least
a full quart of non-toxic antifreeze.
- Don't put antifreeze into a dishwasher or clothes washer.
- If your home has a basement floor drain or a main house trap, fill
each with full-strength non-toxic antifreeze.
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