WATER PIPE FREEZE SERVICES

WATER PIPE FREEZE REPAIRS - TULSA OK

The cost of household water damage due to frozen pipes averages about $15,000. Though pooling water typically freezes at 32 degrees, outdoor temperatures of 25 degrees or lower are usually required to freeze water inside household pipes. Once it happens, ice formation inside a pipe typically expands by about 9%, imposing tremendous pressure inside the pipe, all too frequently causing a pipe rupture. The fact that a pipe has broken due to freezing may not be apparent until later, when temperatures rise and the pipe thaws.

A typical home water-supply line has a flow rate averaging 8 to 10 gallons per minute. If that pipe ruptures, the amount of water turned loose in your home can wreak severe damage on the structure of the house as well as on your possessions. However, you’re not helpless against the threat of damage that may occur due to frozen pipes. Here are some preventive measures you can take before frigid weather, as well as what to do once it strikes.

• Insulate now. Before cold weather strikes, install foam pipe insulation on all accessible spans of both cold- and hot-water pipes inside and under the house. The insulation reduces heat loss from the pipe and helps avoid ice formation that causes rupture.

• Turn up the thermostat. If extremely cold temperatures below 25 degrees are forecast, set the furnace thermostat to 70 degrees and maintain that temperature as long as frigid conditions persist.

• Let the faucets drip. Opening cold-water faucets to allow a slow drip of water during low temperatures reduces pressure inside pipes that occurs if ice forms. This can make the difference between merely frozen pipes and a ruptured pipe that causes water damage.

• Circulate warm air. Open cabinet doors and closets in kitchens and bathrooms to allow warm air to reach exposed pipes in those areas.

• Know the location of your house's main water shut-off valve. Test it once a year to ensure it turns freely.

For more advice about preventing frozen pipes and the damage that ensues, contact the professionals at Air Assurance.

Ways You Can Protect Your Pipes from Colder Weather

Broken Arrow's cold winter weather can cause your pipes to freeze and burst, leading to flooding and damage to your property. Fortunately, you can protect your pipes and your home from damage by taking the right steps. Here are some valuable tips to help you prevent your pipes from freezing.

Insulate Your Pipes

Insulate cold- and hot-water pipes in the unheated areas of your home with products made specifically for pipes, such as pipe sleeves, UL-listed heat tape, and thermostatically controlled heat cables. Newspaper and old towels can also provide some form of insulation for exposed water pipes.

Consider adding insulation to your attic, basement, and crawl space to keep temperatures higher in those areas.

Secure Your Outdoor Hoses, Faucets, and Valves

Before winter is upon you, ensure that you disconnect, drain, and store outdoor hoses. Close the indoor valves supplying your outdoor hose bibs. Open those hose bibs to drain water from them.

Keep Your Thermostat Settings Consistent

Quick temperature drops and setting the thermostat too low are common factors behind frozen pipes. You can protect your pipes from freezing by setting your thermostat to the same temperature during day and night.

Open Cabinet Doors

Opening bathroom- and kitchen-cabinet doors allows warm indoor air to circulate around the pipes and appliances under sinks and close to exterior walls.

Let Water Trickle

A precautionary measure you should take when it's frigid outside is to allow cold water to drip from the faucet connected to exposed pipes. That helps protect pipes from freezing.

Protect Pipes Before Traveling

You'll need to take some measures to avoid worrying about your plumbing while on vacation. You can turn your heating system down (but not off) to prevent your pipes from freezing while you're away. Set the thermostat to at least 55 degrees to help protect pipes.

Check and change your thermostat batteries if necessary before leaving. It's also a good idea to have a neighbor or friend check your home regularly to see if the air is sufficiently warm to prevent frozen pipes.

Don't forget to add these preventive measures to your home-maintenance checklist for winter to protect pipes from freezing and causing property damage. If you need any plumbing services in the Broken Arrow area, contact the professionals with more than 50 years of experience at Air Assurance.

Winter's Here, So Act Now To Prevent Frozen Pipes

Once winter arrives, one fear of every homeowner is to discover to frozen pipes. Far worse is to discover pipes that have burst, potentially causing significant damage. In order to prevent frozen or ruptured pipes, it is important you take some precautionary steps ahead of time. Typically in colder states with harsher winters, most homes have pipes that are located within building insulation, which protects them from subfreezing temperatures. Still, holes or cracks in a building, or extremely cold weather, can cause pipes to freeze or burst. Homes that have pipes located on the outside of building insulation leaving them completely unprotected from freezing temperatures. These homes are at greater risk for frozen pipes. These homes are typically those that have crawl spaces which is very common in Tulsa.Taking all this into consideration, what can a homeowner do to safeguard his pipes from freezing?

• Take time to caulk holes in walls or foundations near pipes to keep cold wind away from them.

• Insulate your pipes.

• If you have a crawlspace, consider foaming the crawlspace. This also can help with the energy efficiency of the home as well.

• Keep thermostat settings at 65 degrees minimum.

• Keep kitchen and bathroom sink cabinets open to allow warm air to circulate to the pipes below.

• One of the most well known tips is to leave faucets running during extreme cold weather. This tried and true method of allowing a faucet to drip provides instant relief from the mounting pressure that can occur in between the faucet and potential ice blockage. If you get rid of the water pressure, you can hopefully guard against a rupture, even if the pipe freezes.

Bottom line, you have to keep your pipes warm to prevent the costly damage of frozen and burst pipes. For more information on how you can prevent frozen pipes this winter, or for other HVAC-related questions, Broken Arrow-area residents should contact Air Assurance today.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our websiteto see our current promotionsand get started today!     Freezing pipes image via Shutterstock