How to Prevent Broken Water Pipes During Cold Weather
Cold winters are hard on water pipes and fixtures, and preventative steps are necessary before the onset of freezing weather. Some forethought and pipe-freezing prevention measures (such as pipe insulation, heat tape, foam rubber sleeves, or fiberglass) are always the best first line of defense against cold-weather water pipe breakage. Nonetheless, if you find yourself in the dead of winter and haven't protected your pipes, it's not too late to take actions that can save you money and protect your home. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Heat tape
- Washer
- Hair dryer
- Hot rags
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Instructions
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Shut the water supply off to the pipes along exterior walls or crawl spaces as these pipes can freeze easily because of a lack of insulation and exposure to the elements. It’s a good idea to have these pipes insulated at the time you have your home built, or wrapped in heat tape, especially if you live in a colder area. If this isn’t possible, shut off the valve that controls the water to these pipes. Usually this valves is on the outside of your home.
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Turn the water valve handle to shut off the water. Turn a ball valve 1/4 clockwise until the water is off. If you have a gate valve (the top attachment looks like a little wheel), turn the wheel clockwise until the water is off.
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Lift the lever or turn the knobs (depending on your type of faucet fixture) to allow the tap to drip. If you haven’t shut the water off, this is the next best thing. Check for any water that may be seeping from the sides of the fixture. This seeping could indicate a bad washer. If you see water seeping out, install a new washer in the faucet--if the bad washer area freezes, it will block the pipes before the water can escape from the tap.
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Apply heat to the outside of the faucet fixture, using a hair dryer, if you can tell water has frozen or is freezing in the pipes. A slow drip or non-drip from the tap is one indication. The water will melt and escape from the tap. Move the heat along the faucet fixture, not focusing on just one spot. The water will melt and free the pipe.
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Open the cabinet doors surrounding undersink pipes to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes. Room temperatures work to prevent frozen pipes.
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Wrap rags that have been dipped in hot water of about 105 degrees Fahrenheit around the pipes. Apply the rags until you see the tap begin to drip, indicating that the ice inside the pipes is thawing.
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References
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