How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

That water expands when it freezes is a widely known fact. But what some people may not realize is that this expansion can cause serious damage to pipes in the wintertime when temperatures drop below freezing. When frozen water expands, it puts pressure on whatever might be containing it. That includes pipes, and not just plastic ones; freezing temperatures can cause extensive damage to metal pipes as well. While pipes that are outdoors and thus exposed to the elements—such as a hose bib for a garden hose or a water supply line for a swimming pool, hot tub or sprinkler—are obviously subject to the dangers of freezing, indoor pipes can be damaged in cold weather, too. Pipes that run inside the exterior walls of a house can be damaged if the walls have no or little insulation. Pipes in unheated areas of a home—including the attic, the basement, the garage and any crawl spaces—are also at risk for damage when the temperature drops.

So what steps can be taken to prevent frozen pipes?

First, before the cold weather hits, detach every garden hose from its hose bib, then drain and store each garden hose. This even applies to those kept on hose reels. Open each hose bib—this will allow any remaining water to drain out of it, preventing it from freezing, expanding and breaking the pipe. Similarly, drain the water from swimming pools, as well as any supply lines to swimming pools, hot tubs or sprinklers.

Inspect unheated areas of your home and make sure that any pipes in these areas are properly insulated. Insulation sleeves specially designed for pipes are available; you can purchase these at home improvement warehouses or even from a plumbing supplies store. These pipe insulation sleeves can be layered to ensure adequate coverage.

If you have faucets coming from pipes that run along exterior walls or other unprotected spaces, it is wise to let these faucets drip. It does waste a bit of water, but having even just a very small amount of water flowing will relieve pressure and thus keep a pipe from bursting. If you have left a faucet dripping and the drip stops, do not turn the faucet off. It is a sign that the pipe has frozen and thus needs the outlet for the pressure still. If you suspect you might have a frozen pipe, call a plumber right away.

About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an Internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including garden hose reel and landscaping.