Frozen or burst pipes aren’t just an inconvenience, they can also be a real danger to your home and the people who live there. That’s why it’s important to get them fixed immediately. If you live in an area with cold winters, it’s important to know how to prevent pipes from freezing during the winter months. Follow these four tips from a plumber in Scarborough on how to prevent frozen pipes.
If your home relies on an outdoor source of water (like a well), then you need to keep that water flowing all winter long. That way, if a pipe freezes, it will still be connected to some kind of water source and won’t cause any damage. Just make sure you don’t turn up your thermostat. This should help prevent freezing pipes.
Installing heat tape around your outdoor pipes will prevent them from freezing and can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in plumbing costs. However, not all heat tapes are created equal. In fact, some can actually do more harm than good, and may even be hazardous! Talk with a licensed plumber in Scarborough about which products best suit your needs before purchasing one.
There are two types of heat tapes: one would turn itself on when it detects that heating is required. The other must be plugged/unplugged based on your requirements. Heat tape must be used with caution and be sure to follow the instructions of a plumber before you start using them.
The easiest and cheapest way to protect your plumbing in Scarborough from freezing is to seal cracks and holes in the walls where the pipes run through. This involves checking your exterior wall thoroughly and patching any imperfections you might find, such as worn brickwork for instance. Check all of your faucets for leaks too. Leave them running for an hour or so when temperatures drop below freezing, and turn them off before you go to sleep. This should stop most minor leaks that can lead to frozen pipes.
The heat generated by your hot water pipes will help keep them from freezing, so it’s important that you insulate those pipes properly. Insulating your hot water pipes could help maintain their nominal temperature, even if there are big fluctuations in temperatures outside.
You can insulate your pipes with foam pipe insulation or add extra wraps of heat tape around them. If you live in a basement apartment, be sure to insulate all pipes leading out of your unit. Keep in mind that if you already have frozen pipes, no amount of insulation will thaw them out for you. Contact a plumber immediately if you suspect a frozen pipe.
These simple tips can be very helpful in preventing the overwhelming problem of freezing pipes. If you need assistance, don’t hesitate to talk to a qualified 24 hour plumber in Scarborough who can fix this in no time.