Winter is not all that far away, along with it comes the threat of frozen pipes in Glenview IL. When your pipes become frozen not only are you without water, the pipes are liable to burst and cause significant water damage. There are ways to avoid the problem.
Prevention:
The old saying “the best offense is a great defense” is true in many things, including defending against frozen pipes in your home. The secret is the location of the pipes and the amount of insulation around them.
The ideal situation is to have as much of the plumbing located in from the exterior walls, in this way the pipes are warmed from the internal ambient heat. Even though the pipes are located in the basement which may not be heated, there is enough heat to keep temperature in the area above freezing.
Even the pipes that by necessity need to come in contact with an outside wall can be insulated, there is numerous foam insulation that is designed to wrap around and encapsulate pipes and prevent freezing.
Leave a trickle of water running:
Even well insulated piping systems may freeze when there are back to back days of sub-zero temperatures which is not uncommon in the Chicago area. One effective way to overcome frozen pipes in Glenview IL is to leave a tap open a little.
When all the taps are closed the water in the pipes sit with nowhere to go. Pipes will begin to freeze from the outside towards the center of the bore, as the ice begins to thicken it will eventually expand and burst the pipe or a pipe joint.
Keep a little heat in the house at all times:
If you plan on being away for any period of time during the winter, do not turn the heat off in the house. It is recommended that the temperature setting on the thermostat should not be lower than 60 degrees F. If you planning an extended absence, turn the water supply off at the meter and leave the taps open.
If you do have frozen pipes in Glenview, don’t use an open flame in hopes of thawing them, you may end up burning the house down. Call a professional plumber with all the right tools and techniques.
If you do experience frozen pipes in Glenview IL this coming winter you are invited to contact Reliance Plumbing Sewer & Drainage, Inc.
