When the weather turns cold, you may occasionally see leaking or damaged pipes, and sometimes you’ll wonder why. The most common cause is due to frozen pipes.
Well, there are many reasons why pipes freeze, all related to weather, location, materials, etc. In this article, we will discuss some of them.
Reasons why pipes freeze
Depending on the weather, your pipes can freeze during the colder seasons. But at what exact temperature will this freeze occur?
Is the temperature only to blame or are there causes for this frost? In this article, we will discuss some of the reasons why pipes freeze.
1. Zero temperature
Just like us, who tend to freeze whenever the temperature drops below 0, pipes do too! However, keep in mind that outdoor pipes are more susceptible to freezing compared to indoor pipes.
For indoor pipes, when the temperature reaches below -6 degrees Celsius, this will be the case time to freeze. This is because indoor pipes are more protected from breakage and damage as they are less affected by extreme outdoor temperatures.
2. South or North
Moreover, the location or area of your home also affects the pipes. If you come from Northyou should already have insulated pipes as the Northern area is prone to cold weather. The northern climate always drops below 0.
On the other hand, if you are from Southyou’re more likely to experience frozen pipes because the weather in the South is usually warm and people don’t always insulate their pipes. When the weather turns cold, faucets and pipes are greatly affected.
To be more specific, the pipes that are prone to freezing are uninsulated pipes in the attic, outdoors, basement and access space, as well as those that are made of copper or steel.
3. How good is your insulation
The way you you have insulated your home ductwork it greatly affects their chances of being frozen. If they are well insulated, they can freeze at extreme temperatures after only 6 hours of exposure to that temperature. Or maybe not. If they are really well insulated, they might not be affected at all!
However, if your pipes are poorly insulated, they can freeze within 3 hours of being exposed to a certain temperature.
4. Placement of pipes
In addition to being located indoors or outdoors, your pipes that do not have access to heaters or radiators are more likely to freeze.
For this reason, always check to see that the area where the external and internal water supply lines are located is properly heated and that they are safely insulated using high quality materials. By doing this, you can avoid both water pipe bursting and water pipe freezing in your house.
Additionally, there are these sprinkler pipes that are prone to freezing. Since these pipes are always exposed to cold or weather, as soon as the temperature reaches 0 degrees Celsius, expect them to freeze. In normal areas, their freezing time is about 4 hours after exposure to cold temperature, but in colder areas, this period can be shortened.
5. Quality of materials
Specifically, the higher the quality of the materials used to insulate the home, the lower your chances of freezing.
Sometimes, even if you insulate your pipes, but only use poor materials, they will always be prone to damage and freezing. This is why many plumbing experts always recommend expensive but durable materials.
Based on personal preference, I always choose quality over price because I feel it’s better to pay more for a single purchase than to have to pay less frequently.
Signs of frozen pipes
Every December, I always wondered why the water flow in our house is so slow. Then I realized it was during the cold months when the pipes tend to freeze, thus limiting the water supply.
Apart from low water supply, there are others signs of frozen pipes. Some of these are as follows:
- Smelly drains and faucets
- The smallest water source could have damaged pipes
- Visible frozen pipes on the outside
For the last point, when you see one, take it as a sign that the other pipes may be damaged as well.
Freezing Pipes vs. Bursting Pipes
Well, we also need to discuss the difference between freezing and bursting, as these two mean different things when it comes to pipes.
Freezing of pipes
Generally, freezing just means that your pipes have that frozen look. If you want to visualize it better, imagine in your mind a block of ice in the refrigerator. At lower temperatures, it would freeze.
When freezing occurs, you can use an electric hair dryer to melt the ice jams. You’ll know if you’ve done it right when full water pressure finally returns.
Note that you should never attempt to use an open flame or other flammable materials when melting ice, as this is very dangerous and increases the risk of fire.
Bursting pipes
On the other hand, bursting means damage to pipes. As said, if the temperature is below 0 degrees Celsius, freezing will occur. But if the temperature is below -6 degrees Celsius, the outbreak can occur.
When the burst occurs, your pipes are already open or cracked. This means that leaks will already appear even after you defrost them. wWhat you can only do now is to replace the entire pipe or the section of pipe that has been damaged. If you come to take a look, this is more expensive than deciding to insulate your pipes in the first place.
if you experience pipe bursting, the best thing to do is to call a plumbing specialist. But if you want to do the repair yourself, it is also possible. Just turn off the water pipe or water supply and then use the necessary tools that can help you replace the damaged pipe.
If you are one of the owners who live in an apartment or condo, do not try to do the repair on your own. Instead, you might be better off calling the office and asking the plumbers to do the job for you.
How to prevent cold pipes from freezing
Remember, prevention is always better than cure. This means that if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on pipe repair, you’d better do the following techniques:
- Balance the temperature of your home. For example, if you have maxed out your air conditioning system, take the time to heat up the inside of your home.
- If you are going out, even just for a short vacation, the best thing to do is to turn off the main water tap.
- Whenever cold weather occurs, let the faucets drip small amounts of water. As much as possible, don’t leave them stagnant or they will freeze!
- In addition to the above tip, you can use a tub to collect the dripping water. The sound may be irritating, but rest assured that this will be worth the money.
- Consider a portable heater or electric heating pad in addition to the fireplace to a melt the ice that froze the pipes. Do not think about the heating bill, because this technique is not so expensive.
- For your sprinkler systems, it’s best to turn them off first in cold weather.
- If you’re on a budget and want to insulate your duct your way, you can try using blankets, towels, or some thick old newspapers.
- Closet doors and garage doors must always be closed. If you have open areas in your home, find a way to secure them to prevent cold air or wind from entering your home.
The best way to prevent pipes from freezing it is through their isolation. If you want to properly insulate your pipes, you can call on a plumbing expert. If you want to isolate them yourself, you can do that too!
Summer and burst pipes
Pipe bursts don’t just happen in cold weather. In the summer, the outbreak can also happen! At severe temperatures, pipes are prone to bursting. This is why it is very important to balance the temperature inside and outside your home.
To avoid burst pipes during the summer, you should always have your plumbing checked if you don’t know how to hire an expert to do it.
Final thoughts
Really normal to face frozen pipes due to cold weather. Typically, temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius can freeze your pipes. But below -6 degrees, your pipes can burst. However, this event can be prevented as long as you insulate your pipes using high quality materials.
Besides temperature, other causes of freezing and burst pipes are the location of your residence. If you live in a cold weather country, expect your pipes to freeze frequently if you don’t have proper insulation.
Whenever frost occurs, you can do many techniques and use different tools available in your home.
