On the long list of things that could go wrong with your plumbing at any given time, experiencing frozen pipes is not too high on the list. For starters, frozen plumbing can only occur when the temperature outside becomes cold enough to freeze the pipes and the water within them. Second, modern plumbing installations are designed to minimize the risk of frozen plumbing, making this problem more likely to occur in older homes and those that have yet to receive a plumbing upgrade.
But, while this problem may not be one that you have to dread consistently, it’s still one to look out for during particularly harsh winters. And, if the weather lately is an indication of what’s to come this winter, frozen pipes may just be the biggest threat to your plumbing in Grand Junction, CO in the near future. Take a look at a few of the ways you can prevent this issue before it has a chance to occur in your home:
- Locate exposed plumbing: Most of the plumbing in your home is designed to be hidden and because of this, it’s likely insulated behind your walls or nested into your building’s framework. However, there are still homes that have exposed plumbing in a few places, making it important to locate and observe this plumbing when the temperatures drop down below zero. Knowing where potential problem areas are is the first step to dealing with them.
- Insulate plumbing: Once you’ve sought out exposed plumbing in Grand Junction, CO, the next step is to make sure that it’s well insulated against falling temperatures. You can do this in a variety of ways, however the easiest is to wrap the pipes in plumbing insulation (found at any hardware store) and secure them with insulated tape. You can also install heated plumbing insulation, which is threaded with heat control fibers, to ensure that heat is retained within the pipes.
- Run water often: The biggest issue that leads to frozen plumbing is stagnant water in the pipes. Much of the time, the motion of water in your pipes keeps it from freezing, since mobility keeps the freezing point lower. The best way to ensure that an ice dam doesn’t develop in your pipes is to ensure that you run the water in your home frequently—even if it’s just turning on the faucet for 30 seconds here and there.
- Have an emergency backup: If you’ve taken into account all of the tips above, an emergency plan should be your final step. Often, this is a plan that accounts for pipes that have already become frozen. One good example is to have a space heater handy, which can be used in a pinch to thaw frozen pipes from a distance.
While there’s a good chance that your home is well equipped to stand up to potential plumbing freezing hazards, it still pays to have a plan in place to deal with the possibility. Make sure that you’re following the above steps this winter—especially when temperatures fall below zero—and you’ll be able to protect your home from frozen plumbing in Grand Junction, CO.