Winter is in full force for Northeast Ohio, with temperatures in Greater Akron dropping to minus 9 degrees.
In cold weather there is a risk of pipes freezing. Here’s what you need to know about it and how to stop it:
What causes damage to pipes when they freeze?
When water freezes, it expands. That expansion has to go somewhere. The expansion can cause pipes to grow, crack, or even burst.
How to prevent pipes from freezing
There is no guarantee that your pipes won’t freeze in the bitter cold. But you can try to prevent this by leaving a light drop on the taps. This keeps the water flowing instead of freezing because it is standing still. You can also wrap an insulator around exposed pipes in your home.
Finally, as the Detroit Free Press notes, it can help to leave your cabinets open so that warm air can flow closer to the ducts in your home.
What to do if the pipe in your house freezes?
If you notice that your pipe is frozen, turn off the water supply to your home as soon as possible.
How do you recognize a frozen pipe?
This can be difficult because pipes are usually hidden in walls. But to spot a frozen pipe, you will most likely see frost on the outside. Check your crawl space, basement, and under sinks for signs of a frozen pipe.
Should you try to thaw a frozen pipe?
Yes. If you have a hair dryer, try using it on the frozen part of the pipe to warm things up. You can also pour boiling water on the pipe, but that can obviously be a mess.
What should you do if you have a burst pipe?
If a pipe bursts, immediately turn off the water using the individual pipe shut-off valve or the house’s main shut-off valve. It is found where the water supply enters the house, usually near the water meter.
The meter is usually located along the basement wall closest to the street.
If you don’t have a basement, the shutoff is likely near the water heater, but possibly under a sink.
If you are lucky enough to discover a frozen pipe before the pipe breaks, turn off the water first, just in case the pipe has already split and you don’t know it. Then try to thaw the frozen area by directing warm air from a hair dryer parallel to the area you suspect is frozen, or by directing an infrared heat lamp or space heater at the area.
As a last resort, you can wrap rags around the pipe and pour boiling water on it, but be prepared for a mess and slow results.
Sources: American Red Cross, U.S. Fire Administration, National Fire Protection Association
This article originally appeared in Akron Beacon Journal: How to Prevent Pipes from Freezing, Tips for Staying Warm During the Cold