Dealing With Frozen Pipes

  Why Does A Plumbing System Freeze? With the cold weather already here, many who own their own home, or even those with a rented living space, may have to be weary of frozen pipes. In areas where it gets very cold in the winter, it’s common for pipes to become frozen during the cold times. If the forecast calls for the weather to drop below 32°F, then you must prepare for the possibility of a burst pipe situation. Pipes tend to freeze not only because of the cold weather, but also lack of insulation, no protection around the pipes, or because the material of the pipes allows the pipes to freeze easier. Depending on what type of pipe you have, you may get pipes that freeze easier than others. Steel pipes, or plastic ones, have less of a tendency to freeze than copper pipes. How Can I Prevent This? Fortunately, there are several ways to prevent pipes from freezing. If you live in a rented space, such as an apartment complex, usually, there will be information given to you, to teach you how to prevent frozen pipes. Usually, you should run the heat, and if necessary, turn on the water to a warm setting, and let it run throughout the cold weather; although this may be drastic, it is effective. Those who live in their own home, may need to take other measures. Wrapping electric heat tape around the pipe, can help to keep them from freezing. Insulation is also necessary if you want to keep your pipes from freezing during the winter. If insulation is installed properly, and in the right location, it can help to keep the pipes warm during the winter. If after installing insulation, you still experience freezing pipes, or they burst, you may need to switch out the pipes and get one’s that are less likely to freeze in the future. Why Is It Important To Keep This From Happening? Broken pipes alone can cost a lot of money to repair; much more the damage that they cause to the home. Flooding can be caused by broken, leaking pipes, so you’ll want to prevent frozen pipes when possible. Those who have a basement, and have pipes running through them; frozen pipes can flood the basement, costing an astronomical amount to suck out the water, and clean the area. Always try to prevent frozen pipes in the cold weather. Is the cold Chandler winter making you think about the security of your plumbing system? Call ABC Plumbing today at (480) 726-1600 for top quality frozen pipe services.