When the cold Missouri winter settles in, it can bring some freezing temperatures along with it. One component of your home that's particularly susceptible to problems during freezing conditions is your piping. Below, we'll address some key ways to greatly minimize your risk of experiencing frozen pipes this upcoming winter season.

Why Pipes May Freeze

When temperatures drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the water inside of your piping can freeze. As water freezes into ice, it naturally expands inside. This causes a pressure buildup inside of your pipe that can lead to unwanted cracking or bursting. There are several different factors that can increase your risk of experiencing frozen pipes in your home.

One of the most obvious is having poor insulation or no insulation at all. Pipes in your basement, crawl space, attic, and garage are typically more exposed to cold air, leading to unwanted freezing. Any pipes that are run in your exterior walls are more vulnerable to freezing, especially if those walls aren't well-insulated. Any air leaks or drafts around your windows, doors, and other holes coming into your house can allow nearby pipes to freeze. Additionally, any extended periods of subfreezing weather can greatly increase your risk of experiencing these issues.

Key Signs of Frozen Pipes

As a homeowner, it's important to understand the key signs that you may have frozen pipes in your home. By detecting these early warning signs, you can help prevent an unexpected pipe burst that could otherwise damage your house. The most obvious sign of a frozen pipe is reduced or no water flow coming from your faucet.

You may notice frost or condensation on the exterior of the pipe. There could be unusual odors coming from your drains or faucets when ice blocks their airflow. You may even notice a bulging pipe or excessive noise like clanging or banging when your pipe is running. It's best to shut off your water supply immediately and contact one of our plumbing professionals for further assistance.

Tips on Preventing Frozen Pipes

While your pipes freezing doesn’t necessarily translate to water damage, it can greatly increase your risk. As the ice inside puts excessive pressure on your piping, it can weaken its integrity. Eventually, you'll likely deal with the burst of a pipe after it thaws out. When water spills out of your piping, it can cause extensive damage to the surrounding area. Below, we'll discuss some of the key preventative steps you can take to prevent frozen pipes in your home.

Insulate Exposed Areas

One of the best things you can do to prevent frozen pipes is to insulate any pipes that are naturally exposed. These include pipes around your basement, attic, crawl space, and even your garage. Even pipes in your exterior walls can benefit from extra insulation. Consider using a foam pipe insulation sleeve or wrapping tape to keep these pipes warm. If you have any piping that's completely exposed, consider using a heated pipe cable or heat tape.

Seal Cracks and Gaps

It can be helpful to assess the area around all of your pipes for any sort of gaps, holes, or drafts. Anywhere that cold air can seep in can essentially allow your pipe to chill off too quickly. This is most prominent in areas where your piping passes through a floor joist. Consider using caulking, weather stripping, or even spray foam to seal up these areas.

Always Disconnect Outdoor Plumbing Features

It's always important to wrap up your outdoor plumbing before the vulnerable winter weather hits. Things like garden hoses should be disconnected and properly drained. All of your outdoor fixtures should have a frost-free faucet or be completely drained of water. You never want to allow water to sit in any of your outdoor plumbing fixtures, as they'll be highly susceptible to freezing. This can cause permanent damage.

If you have an irrigation system, it's vital that you completely drain that system before the first hard freeze of the season. It can be helpful to follow the manufacturer’s winterization instructions to ensure the proper safety of your system. This typically includes tasks like blowing out your irrigation lines with compressed air to remove all the remaining water.

Consistently Heat Your Home

It's pretty common for a lot of homeowners to think about turning down the thermostat when they know they're not going to be at home. However, turning your thermostat to low could leave your pipes susceptible to freezing temperatures. It's best to ensure that your house maintains a consistent temperature of at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Remember that while it costs money to run your heating system, it also costs a lot of money to repair water damage from a burst pipe.

Enhance Your Measures During Extreme Cold Snaps

When extreme cold snaps come through your area, there are some additional things you can do to further minimize your risk of experiencing frozen pipes. Opt for letting your faucets have a small trickle of water. This allows a consistent flow of water through your piping to minimize the possibility of freezing. Additionally, be sure to open up any cabinet doors to allow more warm air to circulate around your piping.

Tips on Dealing With a Frozen Pipe

If you suspect that one of your water lines is frozen, there are some things you'll want to do to minimize your risk of experiencing major home damage. First, start by shutting off the water supply to that location. This will minimize the amount of water that can leak from the pipe if there's a crack when it thaws back out.

Examine the frozen section of piping for bulges, frost, and other very cold spots. The key is to identify exactly where the frozen section extends to and to identify if there's any obvious damage. Next, gently warm the pipe with a safe heating method. A hair dryer, heat lamp, or portable space heater can all be great options. Just ensure they're positioned in a safe location away from potential water leakage. Never use an open flame, like a lighter or blowtorch. Doing so can permanently distort your piping.

Make sure that you open the faucet while you're thawing out the pipe. This will allow any water to flow out and relieve the built-up pressure inside the line. Once you've successfully thawed out the line, inspect it again for any potential cracking or other damage. If the pipe looks okay, have someone slowly turn the water back on while you watch the pipe for any leaks. If your pipe has an obvious distortion, it's best to have one of our plumbers replace that section. You never want to chance running water through it, as the pressure can cause it to burst.

Expert Plumbing Repair Services

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® offers expert plumbing repair services for the entire Kansas City, MO area. Our helpful plumbers can also assist with all of your plumbing inspection, installation, and replacement needs. Just call our friendly office staff today to schedule your next appointment with one of our experienced plumbers.