How to Prevent Frozen Water Pipes

We all know water starts to freeze at 32 degrees F, and the fact that it's inside a copper pipe won't prevent it from happening. If you have any water pipes running outside of your home or through an unheated crawl space you may be at risk of having those water pipes freeze up during the winter. Since a frozen pipe can cause lots of damage and end up costing hundreds, if not thousands of dollars to fix, it's worthwhile knowing how to keep your water pipes from freezing during the cold weather. Here are some ways to do it.

Things You'll Need

• Fiberglass insulation
• Insulating foam pipe sleeves
• Duct or electrical tape
• Electric heat tap
• Hair Dryer

Instructions

How to Avoid Frozen Pipes

1. Drain any pipes running to the outside of your home such as an outside tap or hose bib (hopefully before winter arrives and before it actually freezes). Shut off the main water supply to the pipe, then go outside and open the tap to allow the water to drain out of the pipe. Leave the tap open so any moisture in the tap won't freeze inside and damage the workings of the tap.

2. Ensure that all crawl space openings as well as windows are closed to prevent cold air and wind from getting to the pipes.

3. Open inside doors to enclosed spaces and allow warm air to get at any pipes inside.

4. Consider insulating any water pipes running through an unheated area such as a crawl space. You can either use insulating rubber foam pipe sleeves or wrap fiberglass insulation around the pipe and hold it in place with electrical or duct tape.

5. Another option is to wrap electrical heat tape around any exposed pipes close to your foundation or outside. Install the heat tape around the pipe making sure to leave gaps of 1 to 2 inches between the loops.

How to Thaw Frozen Pipes

1. Shut off the water supply at the main shut off valve, then open the tap closest to where the pipe is frozen.

2. Using a hair dryer, heat the pipe around the area where it's frozen. Move the hair dryer back and forth along the frozen area until the ice inside the pipe melts. Since you've opened the tap, the melted ice/water will drip out of the open tap.

3. Once you've eliminated the ice blocking the pipe, close the tap and turn the water back on.

Tips & Warnings

• If for some reason you are going to be without heat in your home (power outage?), you can prevent your pipes from freezing by opening them just enough to allow a trickle of water. The theory is moving water won't freeze.

• Hot water pipes will freeze just like cold water pipes, so don't ignore any hot water pipes running through uninsulated or cold areas.

• Never try to thaw a frozen water pipe using an open flame like a butane torch.

• Be sure to remember to open the nearest tap before heating the pipe, or else steam and heat could build up in the water pipe and seriously injure you when you do open the tap.