How to prevent frozen busted water pipe, preventing water pipes from freezing!
Express Restoration wants you to be prepared during the cold winter months in Oklahoma for frozen busted water pipe problems.
Bob Chambers with Express Restoration Serving the Oklahoma City & Surrounding Areas over 20 years of experience; Frozen Busted Water Pipe; During the cold winter months in Oklahoma, the possibility of water pipes freezing and breaking is inevitable.
Express Restoration wants you to be prepared before the cold weather sets in.
Water pipes are made of metal or plastic and are likely to break as water freezes and expands.
Frozen busted water pipe problems can be avoided by keeping your water pipes and drains warm. There are several ways to
prepare your water pipes and drains before the cold weather.
• To avoid frozen water pipes wrap heater tape around pipes. Be sure to buy UL-endorsed tape
with a built-in thermostat and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• To slow down the transfer rate of heat to cold, insulating all water pipes with a foam rubber
insulation designed specifically for water pipes is a great idea. Be sure to avoid any gaps
between the pipe and the insulation. Also be sure to close the insulation tightly and use duct
tape to secure in place. (Remember, insulation alone does not prevent freezing but only slows
the freezing process.)
• To prevent drain lines from freezing, insulate drain pipes the same way you would your
water pipes using a rubber insulation.
• Pay close attention to bathroom and kitchen sinks and pipes in crawl spaces and cold
basements. You can keep cabinet doors open to expose water pipes and drains to warm air in
your home or business.
• During extreme cold or if you lose electrical power, let the water run at a slow constant drip
on both the cold and hot water faucets.
• Consider installing a thermal convection-powered hot water recirculation valve to allow
continuous warm water to circulate throughout the waterlines. (Any do it yourselfer can
purchase thermal convection-powered hot water recirculation valves or contact your plumber
to install.)
• Set the thermostat to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit to keep the room temperature well above
the freezing point of water. This will allow warm air to circulate to the attic and behind walls
where most pipes are often located.
• If you are going to be away from home or business for an extended length of time, draining
water lines and pipes should be considered.
• (Main water valves have two locations that you must shut off. The main water supply should
be near the meter on the street side of your house and the other valve on an outside wall or
underground box or basement.)
• To drain water lines, you must open all faucets in your home or business then turn off both
valves. Make sure that the water flow coming from the faucets stops after a few minutes to
ensure the water line is completely drained. If water has not stopped, then recheck both
valves and tighten them or call your plumber if you can’t shut off the valve or if any part is
broken.
• If you have well water, turn off the electrical switch to prevent the well from pumping water
inside.
• If you have automatic outdoor watering systems, be sure to shut off independently from the
main water supply. (Look for round or oval handles and close the valves.)
• Shut off valves to appliances involved in significant drainage which include: Dishwashers,
washing machines, and ice maker on refrigerators (Ice maker valve is usually located under
the sink or in the basement)
• Be sure to inspect the water supply lines by looking for leaks, rust, cracks, or other signs of
damage. If you see any damaged supply lines, replace with braided stainless steel coated
hoses which are more durable than rubber hoses.
• Disconnect outdoor watering tools such as water hoses or sprinkler systems from the outdoor
spigot to avoid water inside the hose from freezing and backing up into the seal cock pipe.
• You can replace the spigot with a frost-free spigot which prevents the water inside your
home from reaching the cold exterior.
• For exterior spigots, you can wrap in foam rubber insulation, open the spigot to drain any
excess water from the connecting pipes or replace the spigot with one that shuts off the water
supply from the pipes in the wall.
• Always consider calling a plumber if you have any issues that you are unsure about or unable
to do yourself.
In the event that you have a frozen pipe, you can thaw them. The following steps will help you thaw frozen water pipes or drains.
• First, locate the frozen pipe by turning on each faucet one by one. If none of the faucets
work, then the frozen pipe is close to the main water supply which is usually located on
the street side of your home or business.
• You can run your hands every few feet to find the frozen section of the pipe.
• If water flows from some of the faucets but not others, then the problem is most likely in
a pipe connected to a specific faucet or pipe on one side of the house.
• Check pipes in uninsulated walls first.
• Be sure to keep all frozen faucets open until water starts to flow.
• Check pipes in the frozen section for splits or breaks. If you find a split or break, call a
plumber immediately to avoid flooding and turn off the water supply as well as the water
heater.
• If there are not splits, you may begin thawing the pipes.
• Use an electric spaced heater, hair dryer, or a heat lamp in a reflector to prevent a fire.
Never leave these devices unattended for any length of time. (Be sure to remove all
chemicals before placing a heat source).