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The month of February can bring some chilly temperatures to the Richland Hills, TX, area. While temperatures up north can be much lower than what we experience, it’s not unheard of for pipes to freeze in our area. This February, make sure that you follow some of our essential plumbing tips to prevent frozen pipes and protect your plumbing system.
How Do Pipes Freeze?
When water remains stagnant in your pipes and the temperature drops low enough for water to freeze, this is when your pipes are at risk of freezing. You may just have a little bit of water freeze in your pipes and never realize it. However, other pipes may experience extensive freezing. As this water freezes, it will expand. This can put extensive pressure on your pipes, resulting in cracking and damage. When a pipe bursts, you’re faced with water damage that can be very expensive to repair. We offer financing on approved credit for major plumbing repairs and replacements, but you can avoid the cost and hassle with proper plumbing maintenance.
Preventing Your Pipes From Freezing
There are several steps that you can take to prevent water from freezing in your pipes this February and throughout the rest of the winter.
Monitoring Your Interior Temperature
It’s important that you always maintain an interior temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything lower than this temperature can cause your pipes to freeze. People often think that their interior temperature must drop down to 32 degrees Fahrenheit for freezing to occur, which isn’t true.
Whether you’re home or away for an extended period, you’ll want to monitor the temperature that your thermostat is set to. You can do so remotely by upgrading to a smart thermostat. This technology provides several great features that can help protect your home and plumbing system.
Circulation of Warm Air
If the air around your pipes is cold, this can increase the risk of your pipes freezing. You’ll want to always maintain warm airflow throughout the winter. You can do this by opening the cabinets where your pipes are located during extreme cold snaps.
Insulating Your Pipes
You can keep your pipes warm by adding insulation around them. There are several materials available for this purpose. Foam tubing can fit right over your pipes in areas that are prone to freezing. You can have fiberglass batting installed around pipes as well. Spray foam insulation is a great product that is sprayed into all of the nooks and crannies around your pipes to provide a tight seal.
Insulating Your Home
If your home lacks insulation, this can promote cold air flowing around your pipes and fixtures. An insulation assessment can determine what areas of your residence would benefit from upgraded insulation. There are several tax incentives available when you upgrade the insulation in your home. This can help offset the cost of investing in this upgrade.
Using Space Heaters
You only want to turn on space heaters when you’re going to be at home to monitor them. If you leave them unattended, they can cause a house fire if they are knocked over or malfunction. Point the space heaters towards the area of your plumbing system that experiences cold air flow and is at risk of freezing. This may be near exterior walls or inside cupboards.
Use Heat Tape
Heat tape is a device that wraps around your pipes and delivers low levels of heat that will prevent freezing. The temperature of heat tape doesn’t get high enough that it can cause damage, making it an ideal option for your home.
Leave Water Trickling
If you’re concerned that your pipes are going to freeze, leave your faucets on a slight trickle. This small flow of water is often enough to prevent ice from forming inside your plumbing system. This isn’t an ideal scenario for long-term prevention, but it works when you’re away from home or it’s extremely cold outside.
Winterizing Your Outdoor Plumbing
The faucets and fixtures on the outside of your home should be winterized before the temperature starts to drop. You should turn off the water that is supplied to these fixtures. Drain all the water out. Put away any hoses or equipment that you have hooked up to your outdoor fixtures.
You can install freeze-proof faucets or faucet-insulating covers to prevent freezing from occurring. Insulating the pipes inside your home that feed water to these fixtures can also be beneficial.
Addressing Frozen Pipes
If you’ve taken all these proactive steps but still experience frozen pipes, there are steps you can take to promote gradual thawing. This will protect the integrity of your pipes and plumbing system.
Wrapping Frozen Pipes
Wrap your frozen pipes with rags that have been soaked in warm water. Change these rags out frequently to keep the temperature around your pipes up.
Don’t Run Water
If you know that your pipes are frozen, avoid running water excessively. This could lead to pressure building up inside your pipes, causing your pipes to burst.
Call a Professional
If you’re not sure what area of your plumbing system is frozen or you don’t know how to thaw your pipes safely, call our team to assist. There are several specialized tools that can provide heat to thaw your pipes.
Hair Dryers and Heating Pads
You can use your hair dryer or a heating pad to deliver heat to frozen pipes. Keep the heating pad on a low setting to prevent damage. Keep your hair dryer moving so heat doesn’t build up in one area of your pipes.
Signs of Frozen Pipes
It’s important that you notice the signs of frozen pipes so you can take quick action.
Changes in Water Pressure
If you’re not seeing a normal flow of water coming from your faucets and fixtures, there may be ice inside your pipes.
Bulging or Damaged Pipes
If your pipes appear like they are bulging or are damaged, ice may be inside them. You’ll want to take immediate action to prevent your pipes from bursting.
Condensation and Ice on Pipes
The surface of your interior pipes should be dry and free of ice or condensation. If they seem to have frost or ice on them, it’s likely you will have ice on the inside as well.
Odd Sounds
Gurgling or banging sounds coming from your pipes indicate there is some sort of obstruction that is preventing a normal flow of water. If it’s the middle of winter, ice may be to blame.
HR Phoenix expert plumbers can help with winter issues like pipes freezing, routine maintenance, and repairs. We also take care of both residential and commercial heating and cooling needs like new equipment installation and emergency repairs. In addition, we perform routine maintenance to keep your home running efficiently and reliably. Our team provides electrical services as well, such as generator installations, electrical panel upgrades, and rewiring.
We’re proud to be a local, family-owned business with experienced experts. We’re also top-rated on Home Advisor and have excellent reviews on Google and Facebook.
Contact HR Phoenix today to schedule an appointment in the Richland Hills area.
