Burst pipes are an Indianapolis homeowner’s nightmare. Occurring during the cold winter months, a water pipe can burst just like a beverage container in the freezer. As the temperature drops to freezing, the water within the pipes turns to ice and as ice has a much lower density than liquid water, it takes up more volume — in a word, it expands.
As your pipes are a constricted area (just like a soda can) there is only so much room for the expanding water to take up. When too much pressure builds the pipes cannot contain the ice and they burst. And if they burst in or near your home, this problem goes from theoretical physics explanation to an expensive mess.
Keep the heat on
Yes, we turn off the heat when we leave the house because we’re not there to enjoy it, so why pay for it? You don’t have to keep it toasty, but if you don’t turn it completely off, you can keep your house (and its pipes) at a reasonable temperature and cut down risk of their overexposure to the cold. This is especially useful for when you are out of the house for long periods of time, such as day trips or even over-night escapes.
Pipe insulation
Hire an Indianapolis professional to come over to your house and inspect your pipes and give you an estimate on the cost of installing insulating materials. Most pipes are on the edges of your home in the areas that get the most extreme weather effects. Chances are the majority of any pipes can be found in your basement and within exterior walls. If insulation materials aren’t the right option for your house for whatever reason one can also make ducts. The duct system is different than the insulating materials because they do not go directly on the pipes, but rather surround them a few inches away. They work by having a small fan system that conducts the warm air from within your house to your duct system over your most vulnerable pipes.
Faucet flushing
No, this has nothing to do with your toilets (but if you have one in a guest room that hasn’t been used since Easter, read on). In every corner of your house that has a running water connection, make sure it’s been used recently. Water running quickly is inherently warmer than still stagnant water.
Many people who have heard this advice misinterpret it thinking they need the hot water on. That helps, but don’t use it exclusively. Hot water only will flush the pipes between your heater and your faucet. Use the cold water too, while colder it is not yet frozen and this keeps the pressure down on all the pipes that come from the main – a much more likely source of burst pipes.
Avoid a costly pipe burst with these key tips! Call Indiana Leak Detection at (317) 497-0024 for repairs in your Indianapolis, IN home.