Frozen Pipe Prevention Nepean
Most areas of Ontario experience more extreme winter temperatures than other parts of Canada, and according to the Farmer’s Almanac it would appear Mother Nature has special plans for the Ottawa Valley this year, and that includes you Nepean! It states you are in for more snow and cold than other years; did you know if given the chance frozen water can expand as much as 10% its natural volume, and that can cause one or more of your pipes to burst? Unfortunately this is not an uncommon occurrence during the winter months, and it can be quite a costly and highly unpleasant experience during a deep freeze. John the Plumber Nepean is committed to helping keep your pipes protected, and offers the following frozen pipe prevention tips to help you keep your pipes warm and insulated so your water does not freeze.
Keeping Your Pipes Warm & Turning Unused Valves Off
Your pipes are generally hidden away in places such as beneath your kitchen and bathroom counters and are not warm areas. You need to let the heat from your home in there; the best thing you can do is leave those cupboard doors open during the winter and allow the heat to circulate into those areas. Make sure that you remember the faucets in your home that you don’t use much in the winter that contains plumbing so heat gets into all of those spots, not just the ones you still use on a daily basis.
If you decide to head down south of vacation, a good practice is to turn off the main water supply in your absence. This will prevent any damage from occurring while you are away. You also need to disconnect all outside hoses from all outside faucets to prior to the cold arriving to save yourself from damages and the costs attached to repair them.
Insulating Pipes and Heating Cables
Keep areas of your home warm where you have pipes that are exposed such as in your garage, basement and near outdoor taps; installing extra insulation in these cooler areas will do the trick. Something else you can do is install electric heating cables; place them near your pipes in cooler areas to keep them from freezing. Lastly, you can install insulation on each pipe; wrapping individual pipes will provide an extra layer of protection.
