Dec5
Five Ways To Prevent Frozen Pipes in the Winter
Reading Time: 3 minutesHow to Properly Winterize Your Pipes to Prevent Freezing
From skiing and sledding to cozy sweaters and beautiful snowy scenery, winter can bring a lot of joy, but it can also bring a lot of headaches and annoyances. Frozen pipes are just one example of this.
For any homeowner living in a city like Kelowna that experiences cold winter temperatures, frozen pipes during the winter months are a common occurrence. Fortunately, when armed with the right tools and knowledge, you can easily take steps to prevent your pipes from freezing when the temperature drops.
In this article, we will explain why pipes can sometimes freeze during the winter and how to address this issue before it occurs. Keep reading to learn more about how you can keep your Kelowna home and plumbing system safe from pipe freezing and water damage during the winter.
What Are Frozen Pipes and Why Does This Occur?
Frozen pipes occur when outdoor temperatures drop to below freezing (typically zero degrees Celsius and below), causing the water inside your plumbing system to freeze. When this happens, the water expands, putting your pipes at risk of developing cracks or even bursting.
While the main culprit for frozen pipes is cold outdoor temperatures, there are some additional risk factors to consider:
- Poor or no plumbing insulation
- Drafts and leaks
- Exposed pipes
- Exterior hoses and taps that were not winterized
- Poor indoor heating
What Are the Consequences of Frozen Pipes?
Frozen pipes can cause serious damage to your home and plumbing system. As previously stated, frozen water inside a pipe will cause it to expand and create continuous pressure until cracks form or the pipe bursts. When temperatures rise and the water melts, a substantial amount of water will flow into your home, causing serious water damage.
Furthermore, frozen pipes can:
- Prevent water from flowing through your taps, leading to a loss in water supply
- Damage your faucets, sinks, and toilets
- Cause water damage that leads to mould and mildew growth
- Lead to higher water bills
- Require incredibly expensive repairs
How to Prevent Your Pipes From Freezing in Kelowna
In Kelowna, winter temperatures tend to be more mild compared to other parts of Canada. However, with overnight temperatures frequently dipping below zero degrees between December and February, your pipes are still at risk of freezing even if it feels relatively warm during the day.
With that being said, below are just a few of the ways you can take action in the fall to prevent this from happening.
Insulate Your Pipes
Exposed pipes often seen in basements and crawl spaces are highly susceptible to freezing. Therefore, it’s absolutely essential to insulate your exposed pipes if you live in Kelowna or any other location with cold winter weather. This can easily be done using pipe insulation sleeves, foam, or heating tape to wrap the pipes. If you are unsure about how to do this properly, call a plumber for guidance.
Fix any Leaks
Cracks around your home’s exterior walls, foundation, and windows and doors can allow cold air to get into your home and can affect your pipes if the temperature is low enough. You can prevent this from happening by using caulk or weatherstripping to seal off any cracks.
Disconnect and Drain Your Outdoor Hoses
Prepare for the arrival of winter by disconnecting and draining your outdoor hose along with any faucets to prevent any water from seeping in that could freeze.
Insulate Your Attic and Crawl Space
If you have an attic and/or crawl space in your home, make sure that they are adequately insulated and warm before the winter season. These areas can get cold and drafty during the winter time, and when the temperatures drop to below zero, it can damage your plumbing system and cause your pipes to freeze.
Call a Plumber
Whether you have pipes that have already been frozen or you need help with insulation and other winterization methods, our team of Kelowna plumbers are here to help.
At My Plumber Kelowna, we have a team of licensed, trained, and highly experienced plumbers who can help you winterize your home and fix any damage caused by frozen pipes during the winter months. Call us today at 250-601-0000 or fill out a form on our website and we will be in touch ASAP.