Freezing Pipes

When water freezes, it expands. Have you ever put a soda in the freezer, and then forgot about it?  Only to find it later after it exploded. When water freezes in a pipe, it expands the same way. If it expands enough, the pipe bursts, water escapes and serious damage results.

When a pipe freezes, it does not typically break where the ice formed. Continued freezing and expansion causes the trapped water to increase in pressure.  This pressure can be in excess of a thousand pounds.  Usually because of this increased pressure the pipe will fail where there was not any ice formed.

Pipes inside a house within the building’s insulation, insulation on the pipe itself, or heating, are generally safe.  Any openings in an outside wall, such as television cables, telephone lines, a/c lines, electrical, and gas pipes, can allow the cold air to penetrate and harm the water lines.

Different pipe materials and the size also have a bearing on how fast they can or will freeze.  But without any heat access, this does not affect the outcome of  frozen pipes.

Electric heating tapes and cables are available to run along pipes to keep the water from freezing.

These must be used with extreme caution; follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to avoid the risk of fire.

Tapes and cables with a built-in thermostat will turn heat on when needed. Tapes without a thermostat have to be plugged in each time heat is needed, and may be forgotten.

Another method to protect the pipes is to allow them to drip.  Running water will eventually freeze as well.  Allowing a faucet to be open reduces the chance of pressure build-up at the faucet.  Running a faucet does waste water so only open the ones that are partial to freezing.  This would be a water line that does not get enough heat to it to stop it from freezing.

If you are planning to go away for an extended period of time, turn off the water and turn on all the fixures, both hot and cold, to allow the water to drain out.  Remember to turn off the water heater.  This will save your fuel or electric and protect the water heater from over heating.  Keep your temperature setting on your heater at a low setting.  Keep it around 50 degrees ferenheit to avoid freezing.  Also open cabinet doors to expose water lines that may be on an outside wall.

If you do encounter a frozen pipe, do not use an open flame to thaw it out.  This could cause a fire.  Use a hairdryer or even a heating pad.  Be careful with electric around water.  Start at the faucet, with it open, and work your way back to the frozen area.  This will allow the pressure to escape as you heat it.