Frozen Pipes

There is nothing worse than waking up one cold winter morning to frozen pipes.

The Problem

The major reason water pipes in a home freeze, is due to the pipes being exposed to freezing weather conditions. Location of the water pipes is a major contributing factor. Plumbing codes usually require the avoidance of pipe installations in an exterior/outside wall where they can become subject to freezing and damage.

The Solution

If you have water pipes located in an exterior wall that continue to freeze, relocating the pipes to a location within the interior walls of the home can be a good remedy to keep the pipes from freezing.

Understanding the importance of foundation vents, which are located on the outside of your home and allow airflow to enter the crawlspace is key. Foundation vents should be closed during the Winter months to keep the cold air from entering the crawlspace. This can help reduce the possibility of freezing pipes. Just remember to open them back up in the warmer months to keep airflow in your crawlspace and keep the moisture down.

If your crawlspace is still cold after closing the foundation vents, another remedy is to use heat tape or add pipe insulation to your pipes located in your crawlspace. This can save you a lot of headaches.

When water pipes freeze there is no waterflow to a particular fixture such as a toilet, faucet, washing machine line, etc… After the frozen pipes thaw out you have much greater risk of a water leak caused by the pipe rupturing.

If you notice you have frozen pipes or a water leak, be prepared to turn the water off to your home and call a plumber to locate and repair your damaged pipes.

For all your plumbing needs in the Republic, Nixa, Ozark and Greater Springfield, MO area, please contact us here at Accro Plumbing.