The Dangers of Frozen Plumbing
As a Realtor, I have witnessed the aftermath of a few homes, especially vacant ones, suffering from frozen pipes. The damage caused by thawing pipes can be extensive and costly to repair. To prevent this from happening in a vacant home, there are steps you should take. If you are in a home and the power goes out and there is no heat, it is important to know how to turn off the main water valve to prevent a potential disaster. This past weekend, our own home lost power, and with outside temperatures dropping to -2 degrees Fahrenheit, I was worried about our pipes freezing. Within a few hours, the temperature inside our home dropped to 48 degrees and the temperature kept falling. Fortunately, I was able to prevent any damage by closing the water system and draining it before the pipes could freeze
Many years ago, I was scheduled to show a vacant estate. When we arrived at the house, we were met with the devastating sight of a flooded house in the middle of winter, a true disaster.
Here are the steps to take to prevent a frozen pipe
Homeowners in the Northeast face a significant risk of frozen pipes, which can result in costly water damage and insurance claims. In fact, water damage and freezing claims were the second-most common type of claims in the US between 2016 and 2020, with the average loss amounting to $11,650. To protect your home, it's important to understand which pipes are most vulnerable and take steps to prevent them from freezing.
Four types of pipes are particularly susceptible to freezing: uninsulated pipes, pipes located on the exterior of the home, pipes in unheated areas such as basements, garages, attics, and crawl spaces, and copper or galvanized steel pipes. Other areas in the home, such as washing machine hoses and sink pipes, are also at risk. Outdoors, spigots, sprinkler systems, and swimming pool lines may also freeze if not properly insulated.
To prepare your pipes for colder weather, there are several steps you can take: drain and store outdoor hoses, open outdoor hose spigots and close the indoor valves, insulate pipes in unheated areas, maintain a consistent indoor temperature, and let water trickle through pipes during cold nights. You can also invest in tools and products such as a Wi-Fi Leak & Freeze Detector, heating cables, insulated tape, and outdoor faucet covers.
In the event that pipes do freeze, follow these steps to prevent disaster: shut off the main water valve, call a plumber if the frozen pipe is inaccessible, use warm air to thaw the pipe, and slowly turn the water back on while watching for leaks. If a pipe bursts, shut off the water immediately and contact a plumber.
By taking these preventative steps, you can protect your home against the damaging effects of frozen pipes.
