Before you are graced with the bitter cold of winter’s wonderland, we always recommend being proactive and advocating for preventative maintenance and signing up for an annual inspection. Without examining all areas of your home, you risk potential damage from freezing as water continues to expand and pressurize, creating frozen pipes.
Ottawa homeowners should know that aside from drain lines, many exterior and interior areas of homes must be winterized. For example, an outdoor faucet or spigot, pipes in unheated garages, hoses, pipes running in or near exterior walls, and any other internal or external plumbing that could be exposed to falling temperatures.
Ways To Prevent Pipes From Freezing
One of the best ways to prevent a burst pipe from water freezing is to insulate your pipes, before they become frozen pipes. Ottawa homeowners can do this by wrapping foam tubing around their pipes. Foam tubing is inexpensive, and it's very easy to install.
Then, you will want to let the water inside of the exposed pipe completely drain out. Even the tiniest of trickles can freeze and cause your pipes to rupture. Now, if you are dealing with a pipe that has already frozen before it can cause more damage, turn off the main water valve. This will prevent your floods from occurring when warm air begins to thaw that pipe.
Another way to avoid frozen pipes inside your home is to keep your thermostat at warm temperatures during the day and the night. If you're flying away to a warmer destination for the winter, still ensure that you keep your home’s heat on, even if it’s on low. The last thing you would want is to come home to broken pipes and thousands of dollars of pipe and water damage.
These are just some expert tips that prevent freezing. However, sometimes pipes still freeze despite your best efforts. It's still equally important to call a professional plumber for frozen pipe repair. Ottawa homeowners who act promptly can help prevent a range of issues from occurring.