Aspen Mountain Plumbing is here to provide homeowners with the information they need to understand why frozen pipes happen and how to prevent them. But first, Lance Ball, proud owner of Aspen Mountain Plumbing, tells us a cold winter tale so real it could be fiction. This is Lance’s story about Phil, a homeowner in Sweetwater County, whose pipe froze and sent chills down his spine.
It was a cold winter day in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. One of those cold winter days that seemed much colder than any other cold winter day in Rock Springs, WY. Temperatures had dropped significantly and days with temperatures below twenty degrees seemed to go on forever.
The cold weather posed a particular problem for homeowner Phil Smith – he left town and turned his heat down below 50 degrees. This caused his plumbing pipes to freeze solid. He tried everything he could think of to thaw the pipes, but nothing worked. Phil figured if he could get through the night he would have a better chance of diagnosing the problem the next day.
However, when morning came, something strange happened – Phil heard a loud ringing from outside his house! He quickly ran outside and saw that one of his water pipes had broken due to extreme cold!
He immediately called Aspen Mountain Plumbing and asked for help. Luckily for Phil, they managed to come by later that day and replaced the broken pipe with a new one!
From then on, Phil never forgot to make Aspen Mountain Plumbing his first call for plumbing problems and to keep his thermostat above 60 degrees during the winter months just in case something like that ever happened again!
What Causes Frozen Pipes?
Extremely cold temperatures: Extreme cold can damage plumbing pipes and cause freezing. When water freezes, it expands, causing pressure to build up in the pipes and possibly causing them to burst. This can cause serious property damage and disruption of running water in the house.
Exposed pipes or plumbing in unheated areas of the home: Exposed pipes or plumbing in unheated areas of the home, such as attics, basements, crawl spaces, and garages, can be more vulnerable to freezing temperatures due to the lack of insulation. Without proper insulation, cold air has direct access to these pipes and can quickly freeze them. In addition, it is likely that these tubes also offer less protection from possible cold winds that can occur in freezing weather conditions.
Poor insulation around the pipes: Poor insulation around plumbing pipes can be a major cause of pipe freezing in cold weather. If pipes are not properly insulated, heat can escape quickly and the water inside them begins to cool.
As the temperature drops, the water freezes and expands, causing connections to loosen or pipes to burst.
How Can Homeowners Prevent Frozen Pipes?
Homeowners should take precautions when temperatures drop below freezing. Insulating and protecting exposed pipes, keeping cabinet doors under sinks open, allowing faucets to drip easily, and disconnecting outside hoses are helpful measures that can be taken to prevent pipes from freezing.
In addition, homeowners should also check for any leaks or cracks in the exterior walls and patch them immediately. By following these tips, you can ensure your home’s plumbing system stays intact during times of extreme cold.
It is important to note that all exposed piping and water lines that are in unheated areas are properly heated with heater tape and insulated with pipe jacketing or other suitable materials. This helps protect against frost by providing an extra layer of heat and limiting the amount of cold air that can reach the pipes.
Finally, any unneeded openings into these unheated areas should also be sealed with caulk or foam sealant and all accesses should be weatherstriped to minimize heat loss.
Make sure their pipes are properly insulated with materials such as foam sleeves, fiberglass wrap, or rubber foam insulation. In addition, any gaps in windows or walls near exposed plumbing should be sealed with weatherstrip, caulk, or other suitable caulking material. This will help limit heat loss and reduce the chance of a frozen pipe.
In closing, don’t be like Phil. Don’t wait until it’s too late. If you see signs of freezing pipes, call Aspen Mountain Plumbing immediately at (307) 922-4413.
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