Frozen Water Pipe Plumbing - How to Prevent and Fix Them

Pipes can withstand very cold temperatures, so a frozen one by itself isn't a problem. The problem comes when the water inside freezes, causing an ice blockage. This blockage will result in an increase in pressure, which will cause the pipe to crack or even burst. This will not only result in no water from the faucet, you also have to find out where the damage is and repair it.

The pipes in some homes are well shielded from the weather and are not at risk of bursting. Others, however, have pipes that are inside open crawl spaces that are exposed to much of the wind and winter weather. Even a small opening can let in enough wind and cold to freeze the water inside pipes.

If the temperature drops to about 20F/-7C, the water in the pipes may become frozen, even if they are not exposed. The good news is that it's fairly easy to prevent this from happening.

Opening up the faucets to allow the water to keep moving is still one of the best options.

Water will freeze much slower if it remains moving. Not only will opening the faucets keep the water moving, it also allows air to move, preventing a build up of pressure. This pressure release will prevent the stress from being placed on the walls of the pipes. There will be much less chance of a pipe breaking if that excess pressure is allowed to escape.

The best way to prevent pipes from freezing is by not allowing them to get that cold in the first place. This brings to mind the saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

An insulating foam wrap around the pipes is one way to do this.

This will not add any heat to the pipes, but it will prevent any existing heat from escaping. If the water in the pipes is around 35F/1.7C, and they retain this heat, they will not go down below freezing, even if the temperature outside does.

There are different types of foam available. One of the most popular is a long flat piece of foam that is curled to fit the outside of the pipe. You can wrap the entire length of the pipe and simply cut off what you don't need.

It's inexpensive, easy to install and easy to replace.

There is another method that will ensure that you never have any problems, but it is a bit more involved and costly than using foam. A heating system can be used for the pipes to make sure that they always retain enough heat.

These systems come in two types – circulating, and wires or tapes along the length of the pipe.

The wire or tape system is simply that, a wire or a piece of tape containing a wire that runs the length of the pipe. The wire heats up as electricity is passed through it. The heat is then transferred to the pipe and the water inside it. This method will prevent you from ever having frozen pipes if it is installed properly.

A more costly option is the circulating system. It involves slowly pumping hot water from the water heater through the pipes. The cold water is fed back into the heater by a pump that is incorporated into the water line. A built in thermostat regulates the system, ensuring that there is always warm water passing through the pipes.

The constant heating of the water will add some extra expense, but when you use this system, you never have to worry about frozen pipes again. The warm water will melt away any ice inside the pipes before it can become a problem.