As the temperatures drop outside this winter, it is important to maintain the integrity of the pipes in your household. Pipes and drains with standing water are prime areas for freezing. While water freezes, it also expands, reducing the integrity of the lines and, in some cases, breaking the line entirely. 

What Lines are Most Prone to Breaking?

Lines that are most likely to freeze, and therefore bust are:

• Outdoor pipes, such as sprinkler lines, pool lines, or other exposed pipes
• Pipes running along exterior walls or areas that are poorly insulated
• Lines in areas such as basements or garages that are normally cooler than the rest of the house

How Can I Prevent Freezing?

In order to keep your pipes running this winter we recommend:

• Keeping doors, especially garage doors, closed
• Opening cabinet doors in the kitchen/bathrooms to allow warm air circulation around the pipes
• Run water periodically through pipes to avoid sitting water
• Keep the thermostat at the same temperature throughout the night and day so that lower nighttime temperatures do not freeze the pipes

How do I Thaw a Frozen Pipe?

If your pipes do end up freezing, there are a few things you can do, such as:

• Running water through a faucet; if the water is coming out at a trickle, this could be a sign your pipes are frozen.
• Running warm water slowly can help to thaw out the frozen pipes
• If you can identify where the pipe is frozen, applying an electric heating pad to the area will speed up the thawing process
• Continue to check other faucets in order to make sure there are no other frozen areas of pipe.

For more information regarding line maintenance visit the All Clear website or give us a call at 573-634-0165!