Safeguard Your Pipes in Freezing Weather

As chilly temperatures settle in for the week, it's crucial to ensure the well-being of your pipes. Dealing with a burst water pipe during winter is not only a common inconvenience but also an expensive hassle. Here's a guide to help you minimize the risk of such issues.

Protect Outdoor Water Sources

If you have outdoor water sources like a pool or sprinklers, take preventive measures. Drain them to avoid standing water freezing and expanding when temperatures drop. Anything in an unheated area is vulnerable.

Secure Outdoor Hoses

Remove and drain all outdoor hoses, storing them away for the season. Close the valves to prevent seepage and ensure they are in good condition for future use.

Insulate Your Attic

Install an insulated box above your attic hatchway to retain heat in your house. An underinsulated attic is a potential risk, being the coldest part of the house.

Insulate Water Supply Lines

Identify water supply lines in your home and insulate both hot and cold water pipes. Inexpensive options like pipe sleeves and heat tape can enhance heat retention and prevent freezing.

Seal Unheated Areas

Keep unheated areas such as garages closed to prevent freezing. Garages often have water lines that can easily freeze when temperatures plummet.

Adjust Thermostat When Away

If you plan to be away and want to save energy costs, don't set the thermostat lower than 55 degrees. This prevents freezing issues while keeping energy usage efficient.

If a pipe is already frozen, consider these steps:

• Leave faucets slightly open to encourage water flow and melt partially frozen pipes.

• Use a hair dryer, space heater, or heating pad to circulate water in the frozen section.

• Check all water sources if one pipe is frozen, as others could be affected.

• If unsure, call a plumber to prevent serious and expensive damage.

• Shut off the main water valve while keeping faucets open.

A burst pipe can lead to serious flooding and long-term problems like mold and mildew, affecting your family's health. Don't wait to protect your home—act now, especially during the colder winter months.

Bob O'Donnell is the owner of O'Donnell Bros, Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. For remodeling needs, contact O'Donnell Bros, Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Submit your questions to Bob at info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line "Ask the Pro." All questions may be considered for publication, and advice is for guidance only.

Burst Pipes are a Real Risk in Frozen Temperatures

It’s beginning to look a lot like a serious cold front is coming our way here in Connecticut. While everyone is worried about power outages and property damage today, you also need to pay attention to pipes freezing over the next week. With a massive temperature drop, a burst water pipe is both a common nuisance and an expensive hassle. Here is what you should be thinking about now in preparation for the big change in weather. 

1. If you have any outdoor water sources such as a pool or sprinklers, drain them. Standing water will freeze and expand when it turns to ice. Anything in an unheated area is at risk.

2. Remove and drain all outdoor hoses and store them away. It’s a good idea to close the valves to ensure there is no seepage. 

3. Install your insulated box above your attic hatchway to keep heat in the house. An underinsulated attic is always going to be at risk because it’s the coldest part of the house.

4. Locate the water supply lines in your house. Both hot and cold water pipes should have insulation. Pipe sleeves and heat tape are inexpensive and simple options to boost heat retention.

5. Keep unheated areas of your home such as garages closed up. Most garages have a water line through them which can easily freeze when the temperature dips. 

6. If you’re planning on being away and you want to keep your heating lower to save energy costs, don’t set the thermostat lower than 55 degrees. 

What about if the pipes do freeze? Here are a few tips:

1. If a pipe is frozen, water may come out as a trickle if at all. Leave faucets slightly open to encourage water the flow through which will help to melt a partially frozen pipe or prevent one from freezing in the first place. 

2. If you know where the frozen section is, use a hair dryer, space heater, or even a heating pad to get the water circulating again. 

3. If one pipe is frozen, there could be others as well. Check all water sources to determine where the problems are. 

4. If you don't know where the pipe is frozen, call the plumber. A frozen pipe can burst and cause serious and expensive damage to your home. 

5. Shut off the main water valve but keep faucets open. If you don’t know where your main water valve is, now is the time to find out. 

A burst pipe can cause serious flooding not to mention long-term problems like mold and mildew which can affect your family’s health. Don’t wait to protect your home, the risk is too great in the colder winter months. 

Happy Holidays!

Bob O'Donnell is the owner of O'Donnell Bros, Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro”. All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O'Donnell Bros, Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Watch for frozen pipes in wicked winter weather

After the last weekend, I found myself chatting with plumber friends and homeowners alike who spent their fair share of time trying to fix one of the casualties of arctic winter weather. I am talking about frozen pipes.

Frozen pipes aren’t just a pain to deal with, they can be expensive to replace. When the temperature drops, uninsulated or exposed pipes are can’t deal with the weather change, and the water in them freezes, which in the worst-case scenario will cause them to expand and the pipes to burst. This problem is particularly common in older homes where the pipes are more open to the elements, and they don’t have any insulation to protect them. Even though we’ve seen a relatively mild winter, a winter vortex like the one we had last weekend can throw us for a loop, especially if we’re unprepared. So if the weatherman forecasts another bout of icy temperatures, it’s worth being ready. Here are a few simple tips to protect your pipes and give yourself some peace of mind until spring.

1. Make sure all your outside faucets are covered and disconnect any garden hoses.
2. Try to keep your house temperature at 68 degrees or higher.
3. Allow warm air to circulate in the places you have pipes by keeping cabinets and doors open when it is really cold.
4. Wrap any exposed pipes in reach with pipe insulation, which is available at your local hardware store.
5. Close windows and air vents near pipes as cold temperatures and drafts will enable them to freeze more easily.
6. Insulate and air seal any open crawl spaces that can get drafty and cold.
7. If your basement temperature fluctuates with the outdoor weather, consider heating it slightly to protect the pipes that run through it.
8. If you plan on being away from home for any extended period of time, consider turning your water off.
9. If you have one pipe or area that’s consistently giving you problems, consider buying a heating cable, which can be attached or wrapped around the pipe with electrical tape. You can find a cable at your local hardware store or Home Depot, which will run you around $25 for a six-footer.

If you have a pipe that’s already frozen, use a hair dryer to heat the pipe back up and thaw the ice. Never use a hair dryer near standing water. Another option is to heat some water on the stove and soak towels in it. Wrap the towels around the pipes to regulate the temperature and thaw the ice.

If your pipe has burst, it’s time to call the plumber. But first, make sure you turn off your water at the main valve to avoid further damage. It might also be handy to keep a pipe patch kit on hand in the event your plumber is busy tending to pipes all over town and can’t get to you right away. It’s a temporary fix but will keep you in the clear until you can get some permanent help.