How Cold Winter Temperatures Cause Burst Pipes
Winter seasons can sometimes wreck havoc on our homes and business. The severity and unpredictability of winter weather can cause frozen pipes, leaky roofs and other serious problems for homeowners. Burst pipes in homes and businesses have become common plumbing issues especially during the winter months. If you are curious as to how cold winter weather causes pipes to burst, read on to find out.
Why Do Pipes Burst?
Winter weather is responsible for many problems that affect the plumbing systems in our homes and businesses. Although cold temperatures usually cause items to shrink, ice is denser than liquid water. So, when water inside a pipe freezes, the resulting ice expands causing internal pressure inside the pipe to increase. Some pipes may not be able to withstand this extreme pressure and may bursts without warning. In most cases, pipes bursts at their weakest points which are mostly joints.
How to Prevent Pipe Bursts During Winter?
One method you can use to prevent pipes from bursting during winter is to leave faucets running so as to allow a steady stream of water to flow. When water is flowing, pressure is less likely to build up inside the pipes. Something else you can try is to open the doors underneath your kitchen sink in order to allow warm air to find its way to the pipes and prevent ice from forming.
Another major cause of burst pipes is irregular heating of homes and businesses premises. Turning the heat up and down, or on and off can help you save on power bills, but this will not help you prevent cases of burst pipes. Your plumbing system is very sensitive to temperatures and damage can easily occur due to irregularly heating your home. You may be trying to saving money but end up spending more money than you would wish on fixing burst pipes. Because of this, it’s crucial that you keep your AC levels constant so that your pipes do not expand and contract unnecessarily.
When to Call a Plumber?
Burst pipes can cause devastating scenarios in your home or business premises. You need a professional plumber to come over and fix the problem as soon as possible.
Fixing burst pipes is no easy task and trying tackle this problem on your own can be both costly and disastrous. It is important to hire the right plumbing service to fix any burst pipes within your property.
Contact Plumbingemergencycolumbus.com today if you have any burst pipes in your home or commercial establishment.
To recap what you should do to prevent your pipes from freezing this winter…
- Turn your faucets on just enough to permit a slow steady amount of water to keep flowing
- Open any cabinet doors beneath sinks so that heated ambient air can surround the pipes and prevent freezing
- Keep the heat on, at least at a lower level, to ensure that the pipes stay warm enough not to freeze
We hope this information helps keep your plumbing working properly during the cold winter months. Of course if you need a plumber, give us a call 24/7.