Winters in the Northeast can be very cold, and frozen temperatures sometimes lead to frozen pipes. Luckily, most homes in the Northeast are built with pipes on the interior, so they seldom get cold enough to freeze. However, pipes in all buildings can freeze during extreme, extended cold spells or when you go on vacation and allow your home temperature to drop below freezing. When pipes freeze, the water in them expands and causes serious damage as pressure backs up and pipes burst.
Here are some steps to prevent frozen pipes:
Make sure you home has effective insulation, especially in areas where pipes are vulnerable to freezing.
During extremely cold weather (below 20 degrees Fahrenheit) turn your faucets on slightly so that water drips very slowly from them. This drip allows pressure to be released if water freezes and expands in your pipes. Moving water also freezes less rapidly than motionless water. Frozen pipes are much less likely to burst if the water fixtures are slightly open.
When going on a trip, don’t turn your thermostat down more than several degrees, and definitely don’t turn your heat all the way off. If your home has a zoned heating system, you can save energy by turning heat on only in rooms next to pipes. Have a neighbor stop by and check your home during excessively cold weather.
Drain your water system before a big freeze or before going on vacation during cold weather. To drain the system, turn off the main water valve and allow all faucets to run until water stops flowing out of them. Once the water stops flowing, pipes should have little to no water in them. They will not burst during cold temperatures if there is not enough water in them to freeze and expand. When you need to use the water again, turn the main water valve back on.
For more information on preventing frozen pipes in your Connecticut home, or for help updating your home to prevent frozen pipes, contact the friendly experts at Glasco Heating & Air Conditioning.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about frozen pipes and other HVAC topics, visit our website.
Glasco Heating & Air Conditioning services South Windsor, Connecticut and the surrounding areas.