One frigid winter day, you hear a startlingly loud “bang” from somewhere inside your walls. Before you know it, water is gushing out from under your baseboards faster than you can possibly contain it. It’s official: You’ve got a burst pipe and a big mess to clean up.
Why do pipes burst in the winter? Discover the answer, plus tips on how to prevent burst pipes, below. If you have a plumbing emergency, call our plumbers in Bainbridge, GA.
What Causes Pipes To Freeze and Burst?
During the winter, when temperatures dip below 32 degrees, the water in your pipes begins to freeze. As the water inside your pipes freezes, it expands. This expansion puts pressure on the pipe walls. If the ice doesn’t thaw and trigger contraction, pressure will continue building until the pipe can no longer contain it. To ease the pressure, the pipe bursts.
Pipes in walls exposed to the outdoors, such as in your garage, are more at risk of freezing than pipes tucked safely inside your warm home. They need special protection to prevent freezing and bursting.
Other Reasons Why Pipes Can Burst
A temperature drop isn’t the only thing that can cause your pipes to burst. These other issues can cause burst pipes as well.
- Corrosion: Metal pipes, such as those made of cast iron, are prone to corroding over time. Corrosion gradually weakens the walls of your pipes, which can trigger them to leak or burst. Your pipes are at a higher risk of corrosion if your home has hard water.
- Water hammer: Water hammer occurs when the flow of water suddenly changes direction or stops abruptly. It causes pipes to rattle violently, which can shock them into bursting.
- Water pressure problems: Why do pipes burst in the winter? Even if your pipes don’t freeze, your home may still have water pressure issues that can cause bursting. Ideally, you should keep the pressure below 60 psi. If it’s too high, consider installing a pressure-regulating valve.
How To Prevent Your Pipes From Freezing When Temperatures Plummet
Are you worried about your pipes freezing this winter? Thankfully, you’re not at Mother Nature’s mercy. Here’s how to ward off ice formation and keep your pipes in good shape all season long.
Insulate Your Pipes To Keep Them Warm
You wouldn’t go outside without a coat on a frigid winter day, right? Just like you, your pipes need protection from those blisteringly cold temperatures.
The easiest option is to wrap your pipes with foam insulation, which you buy at any hardware store. Simply cut the foam into the size and shape you need.
If you’re worried that foam won’t be enough to prevent freezing, you can also install heat tape. It uses electricity to keep your pipes warm. Installing heat tape is a bit more complicated than wrapping pipes in foam. Here are the basics:
- Inspect your pipes for leaks before beginning. Never apply heat tape to a leaking pipe.
- Wrap the heat tape around the entire length of the pipe, ensuring that you do not cross the tape back over on itself. This is very dangerous and can cause a fire.
- Secure the heat tape with electrical tape.
- When freezing temperatures are forecasted, plug the heat tape into an electrical outlet with a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).
Disconnect Hoses and Sprinklers
Why do pipes burst in the winter? Failing to disconnect garden hoses plays a big part in it.
After a fun summer of gardening, far too many homeowners leave their hoses connected and neglect to pick them up for the winter. This is a big mistake! Leaving your hose connected can cause any leftover water inside to flow into your pipes, where it’ll freeze and potentially cause bursting.
In addition to putting garden hoses away for the winter, disconnect your sprinkler system and any other outdoor items that connect to your pipes.
Open Cabinets and Close the Garage Door
Think the pipes under your kitchen and bathroom sink are safe from freezing because they’re inside your toasty home? Think again. While they’re less at risk of freezing compared to outdoor pipes, blistering temperatures can strike them just the same. Keeping your cabinet doors open allows the warm air in your house to circulate around the pipes.
If your home has a garage, closing the door when frosty weather arrives is one of the smartest things you can do, especially if it houses your water supply lines.
Don’t Shut Off Your Furnace
It’s tempting to turn off your furnace if you’re not going to be home for a while, but that lack of heat will do your pipes no favors. After a few hours without heat, the temperature inside your house will be nearly as cold as it is outside. Always keep your furnace set to at least 55 degrees to avoid this.
To give your furnace a helping hand, consider running space heaters near pipes on especially cold days. However, never leave space heaters unattended, as they can cause a fire.
What To Do if Your Pipes Freeze or Burst
Why do pipes burst in the winter? Too-high pressure, corrosion, and water hammer can all cause pipes to burst when temperatures take a nosedive, but what should you do if your pipes freeze or burst despite your best efforts?
If your pipes freeze, thaw them out ASAP. Thawing frozen pipes will prevent them from bursting. Use a hair dryer or space heater to quickly thaw yours.
If a pipe bursts, the first thing to do is shut off the water supply to your home. This is usually located outside near the street. Next, call a plumber and try to contain the damage while you wait for them to arrive.
Call Our Expert Plumbers To Prepare Your Pipes for Winter
Now that you know the answer to the question, “Why do pipes burst in the winter?” give our experts at Cooper’s Plumbing & Air a call. In addition to emergency burst pipe repair, we offer plumbing maintenance, which is by far the best way to keep your pipes in good shape.
To schedule service, call (866) 464-7132.