Frozen Pipes: Let’s Talk Winter Preparation!
One thing any Coloradan knows is that the winters here can be very, very cold. While this is one of the reasons most of us love Colorado (winter = ski/snowboard season!) we must also be sure we prepare our homes for the low temperatures.
Frozen Pipes
One of the largest concerns during the winter is frozen pipes. Non-insulated pipes within exterior walls or in crawl spaces can freeze during days with sub-freezing temperatures. As you may know when water freezes it expands. This expansion presses against the walls of the pipes and if it continues the pipes may burst! This bursting can allow hundreds of gallons of water into your home, causing severe damage to walls, carpets, ceiling, etc.
Avoiding Frozen Pipes
In order to avoid frozen pipes in the winter be sure that all of your exposed waterlines are properly insulated before temperatures drop. Types of insulation you can use include heat tape, foam rubber sleeves, or fiberglass insulation in either roll or sheet form. Also, make sure all garden hoses are detached and sprinkler systems are turned off and blown out. If you are concerned about freezing being a problem and would like to have a professional inspect your home and get it prepared for winter we would be happy to come out and take a look. Just give us a call at 303-465-1900.
In order to prevent any pipes from freezing inside of the home McAdams Plumbing recommends that you leave the thermostat at no less than 62*F. This is especially important if you are going out of town, say for holiday travel.
WaterCop
McAdams Plumbing does offer another defense against pipe bursting, it’s called the WaterCop Automatic Water Shutoff System. This amazing little device attaches to your main water supply which receives a signal from strategically placed sensors to monitor for signs of water. If these sensors do detect water they send a wireless signal to the WaterCop unit which then shuts off the water supply to the home! Talk about flood deterrence! McAdams Plumbing is a licensed installer of WaterCop and if you mention this blog post we’ll install a unit in your home with sensors for only $995.00 (this price does not include service fee, permits, or requirements). Some insurance agencies even offer a discount if you install a WaterCop in your home, so be sure to contact your provider and see if you qualify! More information about WaterCop can be found here.
What if I Have a Broken Pipe?
If you have a pipe that has burst, immediately cut off the main water supply. This will prevent the water from continuing to gush out into your home. Once it’s been shut off immediately call your preferred plumbing service provider to set up an appointment to have the pipe repaired.
Thawing a Frozen Pipe
If you notice that you have a frozen pipe but it has not yet burst you may be able to thaw it out by yourself. An interesting fact to know is that pipes do not break at the point of the freeze. They break somewhere down the line where the water pressure is building up because it can not get past the freeze. Because of this it’s important to thaw the pipe as soon as possible if you can get to it. Click here to be taken to the Frozen Pipes page on our main website which has detailed instructions on how to thaw out your own pipe at home. The instructions are located toward the bottom of the page.
Hopefully you got some good takeaways from this blog. If you have any questions please do not hesistate to call, email, or leave a comment here. All contact information can be found here. Thanks for stopping by!
