Do You Need a Specific Cold Weather Pipe in Winter?

The winter brings with it not only holiday cheer but also colder weather. Frozen pipes is a common plumbing issue during the colder parts of the year. If you have dealt with frozen pipes in the past, you may be wondering if cold weather pipes are a possible solution. Pipes can be made of many different materials, and each reacts to the cold differently. Here is a brief overview of three common pipe materials and how each performs as cold weather pipes.

Three Common Pipe Materials When Considering Cold Weather Pipes

1. Copper. A classic pipe material, copper offers some advantages and disadvantages in the winter. Copper pipes are the most vulnerable to bursts caused by freezing water due to a lack of flexibility and expandability. However, copper pipes can generate heat quickly if exposed to warm conditions.

1. PVC and CPVC. Similar in design, PVC and CPVC are very hard, rigid plastics that can be used as pipe material. In the cold, PVC/CPVC does not lose heat as fast as metal pipes. PVC/CPVC, while being sturdy materials, are also more flexible than metal, meaning they won’t burst as fast when freezing occurs. However, PVC/CPVC can become brittle and start to break if exposed to extreme cold for too long.

2. PEX. These types of pipes are made of cross-linked polyethylenes and are very flexible and long. Due to its high levels of flexibility, PEX pipes require a great deal of pressure from freezing water to burst. While extreme pressure can cause bursting, PEX offers higher levels of resistance compared to copper and PVC pipes.

When You Need HVAC and Plumbing Service This Winter

At Air Assurance, we help homeowners in Broken Arrow and all surrounding areas with their heating and cooling needs. If you need expert advice to keep your home safe and warm this winter, we can help. No matter if the problem is frozen pipes, drafty windows, or an aging HVAC unit, we can provide the information and service you need to correct these issues. Contact us today to learn more about cold weather pipes.

Tips to Protect Your Air Conditioner From Thieves

Most homeowners dedicate some time and effort toward security in their home, but what you may have missed is protecting your possessions that live outdoors. Your outside heat pump and air conditioning (A/C) units are both common targets of thieves because of their valuable copper content. There are a few simple things you can do to protect your air conditioner.

Use an Alarm

If you are looking for maximum protection, a video surveillance system combined with an alarm system is your best bet. There are special alarm systems designed just for outdoor HVAC units, although they can be fairly expensive. Both security consultants and HVAC technicians are good sources for more information and recommendations.

Disguise Your Equipment

One surefire way to stop most thieves from trying to steal from you is to pretend that you don’t have anything to steal. Installing your outdoor unit in your backyard and covering it with bushes or patio furniture is a great way to hide it.

Invest in a Cage

Another robust option is to buy a specialized cage for your A/C unit. Not only will this protect you from thieves, but it will also protect the unit from damage caused by weather. One thing to be wary of is that some cheaper cages may protect the unit from most things, but still allow copper to be stripped.

Fence It In

If you don’t already have your yard fenced in, building a tall fence can not only provide cover for your A/C, but also make it harder to spot. This works best if you have a large dog that often occupies the yard, but you could always stick up a dog warning sign as a deterrent anyways.

If you have any questions about how you can protect your air conditioner in your Broken Arrow home, please contact Air Assurance for further assistance.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

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