Frozen pipes may not seem like a common occurrence on the West Coast, particularly in Southern California where the climate is typically warm and temperate throughout the year. Even in the coldest weeks of winter, SoCal rarely reaches the conditions that would cause substantial problems with ice that the rest of the country has to deal with. However, this does not mean that the area does not have to take precautions during wintertime. With recent weather patterns, colder-than-normal winters are a factor that can cause water to freeze inside the pipes in your home, leading to substantial problems if not noticed and addressed immediately.
Under normal circumstances where a house is designed and constructed properly, water should not freeze in the pipes as there are a number of steps taken to prevent the issue before it can happen. Pipes that are closer to the outside walls, or in areas more exposed to the outside weather such as attics or crawl spaces, are usually insulated to prevent drastic temperate changes. Be sure to check on the insulation to make sure it is present and in good repair; if not, the first step should be to reapply any worn or stripped material.
Depending on how your home is designed and the devices you have connected to your water pipes, there are some other steps to take to prevent frozen pipes from becoming a reality. If you plan to be gone from your household for an extended period of time during winter, disconnecting outside hoses such as garden hoses is a must. Be sure to drain the excess water from the hoses as well as the pipes, and if possible, shut off the water valve to prevent any unnecessary water from building up in the pipes. To do this, simply shut off the water main and run all of the faucets in the home until no more water comes out.
In addition to insulating pipes, certain other steps may be needed to minimize the impact of exposed pipes. While the majority of plumbing in a home can be insulated or located in areas where warmer air circulates, there are specific places where this may not be possible. One (very costly) solution, if you live in a colder area where freezing is a common occurrence, is to have a plumber redesign the layout entirely and reroute the problematic piping to warmer parts of a home. Since this usually isn't too practical, another idea would be to ensure that insulation is applied not only to the pipe, but the area is protected from gaps where cold air can leak through by caulking. Even the tiniest of holes and cracks can significantly lower the air temperature in an area over time.
One last resort is to leave a very small amount of water running over an extended period of time. While this doesn't directly help with keeping water from freezing, it can relieve pressure from the pipes in the event ice does begin to form. With constant water flow, even if it's a small amount, the pressure release can delay or even prevent an inevitable burst pipe when ice buildup makes it difficult for existing water to move. This should really only be used on pipes that are exposed, as it wastes water and isn't necessary on insulated pipes that won't be prone to freezing water.
In the event that water does freeze and cause ice buildup, the flow within the pipes will become backed up to the point where water pressure will cause the weakest portion of the pipe to burst. Once this happens, time becomes the most important factor in the equation. If you are at the residence and able to address the problem, make sure to shut off the source of the water first and foremost. In any water damage emergency, mitigating the leak will help prevent damage from spreading and should always be done once the safety of the inhabitants is secured. From there on, leave the faucet open and contact your local water damage professionals to come out and assess the situation properly, as trying to fix the situation yourself can potentially cause more problems.
As you can see, even though freezing may not be as serious of an issue as the East Coast, there are still many possible ways that winter weather can cause problems for your home if it is not properly safeguarded. Make sure to take some of the basic steps outlined above and you can be sure that your home will be largely protected from the elements. For more extensive measures, in the event that you life in a much colder part of the States, make sure to speak with a certified plumber to get the best idea of what would be required to protect your pipes.
By Jeffrey Yang |
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7512766
