By this point in the winter, you are well aware of the risk of your plumbing freezing. If you’ve already experienced a frozen water or drain line, the bad news is there’s more winter to go. That’s not a reassuring thought but there are ways to protect your plumbing going forward.
Watch temperature drops to below zero and wind chill potential, especially if it’s slated to continue for a few days in a row.
If you know your vulnerable area, contact Plumbtech Plumbing to see what can be done in the way of protection. You can also do some investigative work to see where the potential exists for freezing.
For example, if your plumbing is located on an exterior wall, it may be vulnerable. If it is, make sure to leave the vanity and kitchen cupboard doors open. It will help to bring warmth from the room to your enclosed water lines and drain pipes.
What is the insulation situation? Does your home have a stone foundation? Crawl space? Older farmhouses tend to be vulnerable. Some older cottages are too.
How secure is your foundation? If there are cracks and holes cold wind can blow in. Wind chill is one of the biggest contributors to freezing pipes.
Once the snow has a chance to build up along the outside wall it will act as an insulator but anything above it will still be at risk of freezing.
Check the condition of your pipes for small cracks on the surface of the pipe or signs of a bulge.
Use pipe insulation on both the cold and hot water lines and drain lines that are located along an outside wall. Pipe insulation is available in a variety of widths. This will also help to curb condensation.
A heat tracer cable can be installed on the inside of a pipe. It’s commonly used when drawing water from a lake, river, or well.
Signs of freezing can range from frost on your pipes to a slow-running tap with minimal water. If the line has frozen, there will be no water. The line will need to be thawed before the situation deteriorates further. The pipe will continue to freeze and it could burst.
If the drain is frozen or in the process of freezing, water or wastewater will slow to drain and may begin to back up. Make sure drain lines are clear of any obstructions such as accumulated food debris, grease, hair, toothpaste, etc. because freezing conditions will make it worse. Plugged or partially plugged drains hold water back from draining and it freezes.
Double-check that the water line to an outside tap was turned off, the tap drained and left open.
If there are plumbing lines that extend to outbuildings such as a shed or workshop, second suite, or stand-alone garage, add a barrier if the plumbing runs underground. Also add a barrier or marker to plumbing lines that run underground through a driveway from the street, well, lake, or other water source going to the house.
The barrier or marker is to keep people and vehicles from driving the cold down below the frost line. It’s also a good idea to do the same if you’re on a septic system that has a small chamber to pump wastewater to a septic bed. Prevent people from walking on it by placing something over it that can be seen above the snow.
Should the worst happen, call Plumbtech Plumbing because they have a thawing machine, especially for frozen pipes. The thawing machine can melt the ice safely, without damaging pipes or your house.
