How to Avoid Frozen Pipes in Your Home

Last winter, we had an issue where the temperature in one of our small refrigerators kept dropping below what it was set at. Unfortunately, this was a refrigerator where most of the pop and other beverages were kept. That meant that when Diet Coke cans froze and burst, we had a huge mess to clean up. This same thing could happen on a much larger scale if your home’s water pipes burst due to cold temperatures (without the stickiness of pop).

According to the Weather Channel, frozen pipes are more likely to be an issue in Southern regions where residents are not as used to freezing temperatures and therefore do not often take the same precautions. However, that does not mean that we never experience home damage in Michigan due to freezing pipes. Bursting pipes occur due to the pressure from the expansion of the frozen water, meaning that the location of the ice is not necessarily where the crack occurs. Therefore, it is vital to ensure that the pipe’s whole length is insulated. Pipes in the most danger of freezing are those located outside the home, in attics, and in crawl spaces. Cracks or holes in the house that let in cold outside air could also cause pipes to freeze.

Insulating pipes, keeping a faucet open and dripping to reduce pressure on the pipe, and ensuring the heat stays on in the house are all ways to prevent bursting pipes in your home. Most of this information was found in The Weather Channel’s “Preventing Freezing Pipes.” For more information about winter heating and plumbing, please contact FLAME!