Prevent Frozen Pipes and What To Do If They Do Freeze Anyway

‘Tis the season that brings us holiday cheer and hot cocoa, sleigh rides and rosy cheeks – along with more frequently freezing, and occasionally problematic, temperatures. We know you’re facing a whole new set of concerns this season. What’s the top of the worry list? Right beside the usual stress of holiday meal prep and getting the place ready for visiting relatives? The horror of frozen pipes. Read this blog post to learn how to prevent frozen pipes and what you should do if they burst anyway.

How Do Pipes Freeze?

A lot of folks conserve energy and save on heating costs by turning the thermostat down when leaving their home for an extended period of time. Others opt to keep the temps consistently low at all times to save on energy costs. However, if you plan to travel this holiday season, or if you just aim to avoid expensive bills, you may want to spend a few minutes thinking about your pipes before you touch that thermostat.

If you find or suspect frozen pipes

Your first clue that a pipe is frozen would probably be a trickle of water (or none at all) from the faucet of a pipe that previously worked well or a toilet that won’t refill when flushed. Get warm air to the pipes as quickly as possible. Frozen pipes create a lot of pressure which can cause your pipes to burst. When that occurs, flooding and serious damage may follow. Here are some steps you can take if you think you have frozen pipes:

open any cabinet doors blocking the pipes’ access to warm household air
apply a heating pad
bring in a space heater
wrap with towels soaked in hot water
direct a hair dryer’s warm air onto them

Try to start the warming with the area closest to the water main or water source so that as the ice clog thaws, it can be further pushed out by fresh water from the main.

Prevent your pipes from freezing in the first place

Your best bet to avoid a catastrophe is to prevent your pipes from freezing in the first place. To do this, there are several options you could consider.

Keep the Household Heat on Low and Let the Water Flow

Keep your thermostat set to 55 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer, even if you’re leaving the house and won’t be back for several days or longer. This ensures your pipes stay at a warm enough temp to prevent freezing while you’re gone. Leave the water on slightly in pipes prone to freezing, especially any exposed to the outdoors at any point. Even the tiniest trickle can help prevent pipe freezing.

Place Electric Water Pipe Heat Cable Over Copper or Plastic Pipes

You could apply an electric water pipe heat cable to copper or plastic pipes, too. You can purchase these in a variety of lengths and put them on your pipes with electrical tape. When placing the heat cable onto your pipes, be sure to follow the specific instructions on your cable’s packaging, and ensure the cable’s thermostat is attached to the coldest part of the pipe so you’ll get the most accurate readout of how cold your pipe’s water really is.

Place Foam Pipe Insulation Over Your Pipes

Foam pipe insulation is extremely easy to apply. Just open the slit along the side of the insulation and place it over your pipes. Then seal it in place with duct tape. Do this in any unheated areas of the home, such as crawl spaces, the garage, basement, and attics. Pay particular attention to pipes near windows or exterior-facing walls. In some cases, you may need additional insulation on top of this.

Turn Off and Drain Outdoor Faucets and Sprinklers

Let all the water out of outdoor drains, faucets, and sprinklers and shut off the valves securely. Turn off, drain and disconnect all hoses as well. This will eliminate the danger of repeated thawing and freezing that would otherwise occur throughout the season, which can cause cracks in surface and underground leaks.

If Your Pipes Do Actually Burst

First and foremost, you need to find out where your water main or shut off valve is. If a frozen pipe actually bursts, you’ll want to turn off the water main valve promptly to prevent flooding. The water main is the main pipe or conduit in a building’s water system, and, in most single-family homes, you’ll find them located in the basement on a wall facing the street. Can’t find it? Check the property inspection report from the purchase of your home. Its location should be noted in Section 6.1, along with a photo.

Once you’ve located your water main, be sure you know how to turn the water off and on.

To turn it off, rotate the valve clockwise. To turn it back on, simply reverse that and turn it counterclockwise. (Note: You’ll want to keep the water main turned ON when de-thawing frozen pipes, which we’ll cover later.) Different types of valves, depending upon where you live and how old your house is, are explained here.

You should also know the location of the streetwise valve, located at the boundary line of your property and the street or sidewalk outside. Speak with your water company if you suspect the streetwise valve needs to be shut off. They will either advise you to shut it off yourself or send assistance.

Your next steps are:

Contact a plumber if you own your own property. Contact your landlord or building manager if you do not.
Remove as much water as you can. You’ll want to minimize the risk of mold damage as much as possible.
If you own your own home, you could also:
- Drain the pipes by first running out the cold water from all faucets, then shutting off the hot water heater and doing the same thing again. According to Bob Oates, when there is no more running tap water supply, any leaking from the burst pipe will stop.
- Locate the burst pipe and assess the damage to determine whether its worth a try to repair it yourself or not. If you’d like to try, this site has some tips on how to go about it.
Consider contacting a water damage professional if there is substantial damage to the carpeting, walls, ceiling, or floors.
Consider hiring a professional drying crew to back up your attempts at drying out the area with fans and towels. You’ll probably need their help to avoid mold and mildew issues.
When your damage is repaired, all is dry, and you’re ready to get back into your home, be sure to follow Bob’s steps here to resume water usage properly.

Have you got concerns about how to keep your pipes properly insulated this winter? Stop into your nearest Sneade’s (Lusby or Owings) and ask our staff about it. We can help you find whatever you need to keep your pipes warm, flowing, and burst-free!