Wicked winter weather can cause plumbing pipes to freeze and possibly burst, causing flooding and costly water damage to your home. Taking preventive measures can reduce the risk of frozen pipes and other cold-weather threats.
Related: How to Protect Your Home From Severe Cold
Where the Trouble Lies
“Some pipes are more prone to freezing than others because of their location in the home,” explains a representative of Roto-Rooter.
Pipes most at risk for freezing include:
- Exposed pipes in unheated areas of the home
- Pipes located in exterior walls
- Any plumbing on the exterior of the home
Preventive Measures for Outside
A frozen garden hose can cause more damage than a busted hose. It can actually burst an interior pipe. When the water in the hose freezes, it expands, increasing pressure throughout the whole plumbing system. As part of your regular seasonal maintenance, disconnect garden hoses and drain and store them before the first hard freeze.
If you don’t have frost-proof spigots, close the interior shut-off valve leading to that faucet, open and drain the spigot, and install a faucet insulator. They cost a little over $6 and are worth every penny. Don’t forget, outdoor kitchens need winterizing, too, to prevent damage.
Exposed Interior Plumbing
Exposed pipes in the basement are rarely in danger of freezing because they’re in a heated portion of the home. But plumbing pipes in an unheated area — such as an attic, a crawl space, or a garage — are at risk of freezing.
Often, inexpensive foam pipe insulation is enough for moderately cold climates. For severe climates, opt for wrapping problem pipes with thermostatically controlled heat tape (about $30 for 30 feet), which will turn on at certain minimum temps.
Underinsulated Walls
If pipes traveling in exterior walls have frozen in the past (tell-tale signs include water damage, mold, or moisture buildup), inadequate or improperly installed insulation may be to blame. It might well be worth the cost to open up the wall and beef up the insulation. It runs $1 to $4 per square foot plus 25 cents to 50 cents per square foot for installation.
“When nothing else works, say for a northern wall in a really cold climate, the last resort is to reroute a pipe,” says the Roto-Rooter representative. Depending on how far the pipe needs to be moved — and how much damage is caused in the process — this preventive measure costs $856 to $1,043. Of course, putting the room back together is extra.
Heading South for the Winter?
Homeowners who leave home for an extended time in winter should take extra preventive measures to adequately protect the home from frozen pipes.
- Make sure the furnace is set no lower than 55 degrees.
- Shut off the main water supply and drain the system by opening all faucets and flushing the toilets.
In extreme situations (such as a vacation home in a bitterly cold climate), Roto-Rooter recommends having a plumber inspect the system, drain the hot water heater, and perhaps replace the water in traps and drains with nontoxic antifreeze.