Freezing Water Is A
Problem
Temperature…
When the temperature
inside the home goes
below 32 degrees
Fahrenheit (0° Celsius)
likely the water supply
pipes and the drain
traps will freeze.
Anytime water freezes it
expands 9 percent, if
there is no room for
expansion possibly the
pipe will burst. After
the ice thaws the pipe
will leak, this leak
could occur anywhere
in the supply
system. Fixing the burst
pipe can be expensive;
also the damage from the
uncontrolled water
leakage could easily
reach into the thousands
of dollars.
Plumbing…
Whenever the plumbing
supply pipes are close
to the outside walls is
a potential spot for
freeze damage. Most
houses have kitchen
sinks in front of a
window; pipes freezing
beneath the kitchen sink
are a common problem.
The wall behind the sink
needs enough insulation,
if the insulation was
not installed properly
and there are gaps,
there is a risk of
supply pipes freezing
under the sink. If there
are any air leaks in the
wall or sill area then
freezing pipes will
occur when there is a
cold wind.
Some Pipes
Freeze But Don't Burst
Frozen…
When the water inside
the supply line freezes,
it won’t always damage
the pipe. Galvanized
steel and most plastic
pipes are less likely to
rupture than copper.
It's a cold winter
morning you turn on the
faucet and water doesn’t
come out of the faucet,
the pipe is probably
frozen somewhere.
Finding where the pipe
is frozen won’t always
easy. You might see
frost on the pipe...
that's a sure sign of
freezing.
Your Pipes Freeze…
When you turn on your
faucets and the water
does not come out, leave
the faucets turned on
and call a plumber at
773-451-6767
If you think your pipes
have frozen, turn off
your water at the main
shut valve and leave
faucets turned on until
a professional arrives.
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