Learn How To Protect Your Home From a Burst Pipe This Winter
The transition from fall to winter can be hazardous to plumbing. The increases in precipitation and falling temperatures can stress a home's plumbing that can result in burst pipes that can cause serious damage. Fortunately, there are steps that homeowners can take to prevent damage from occurring to their home, and there are professionals available to help make emergency repairs or take preventative action.
Hazards of Burst Pipes
No matter the pipe's size, a burst water line can spew out enough water to flood a home in a matter of minutes. A burst pipe can be cheap and easy to repair, but the damage they cause can cost thousands of dollars and takes weeks to remediate. A burst water pipe can cause a flood that can ruin walls, warp woodwork, buckle floors, and encourage mold growth.
Outdoor pipe bursts are also common due to the change in temperatures and the shifting of soil. If the burst pipe happens to be located outside, it can quickly wash away the topsoil and even erode a home's foundation. Apart from the cost of re[airs and repiping, the downside of a broken pipe is that the homeowner will also be left with the bill for all of the wasted water.
Can Insulating Your Pipes Help?
The first line of defense against the damages of burst pipes is insulation. Most plumbing materials are brittle and can't take the pressure of expanding water when they freeze. Wrapping pipes in insulation prevents the cold from turning the water inside of them into ice.
It is common practice to wrap pipes that are in danger of freezing in special insulation designed to protect them from freezing. Pipes in danger can include pipes exposed to outside temperatures, pipes that are uninsulated in an attic or crawl space, and outdoor hose bibbs.
Protecting a home and preventing the need for burst pipe repairs can be cheap and easy. Pipes can be protected with pipe insulation, and hose bibbs can be covered with special covers that prevent them from freezing.
Different Ways To Prevent Pipe Bursts
The best way to avoid the need for burst pipe repair is to prevent the pipe from rupturing altogether. To accomplish this, a homeowner can:
- Reroute vulnerable plumbing
- Insulate and seal crawl spaces
- Install heat tape
- Properly winterize irrigation systems
- Repipe vulnerable lines with new, freeze-resistant materials
For most of these steps, a homeowner can accomplish them by themselves at the beginning of the winter season. Getting into good maintenance habits by following a schedule for seasonal maintenance can help homeowners keep their homes safe during the transition from fall to winter.
For those who don't feel that they can accomplish this on their own, enlisting the help of a licensed plumber will ensure they won't need emergency burst pipe repairs through the harsh winter.
About Benjamin Franklin Plumbing
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is the reliable service company homeowners have been counting on for decades. They are available for burst pipe repair in Northfield, MN, and the surrounding areas and offer convenient appointment times to accommodate all their customers. Contact them now for professional plumbing services!
