As winter approaches, the idea of a freeze break can be as bad as a “Boogey Man”, as homeowners face the daunting task of preparing their homes for the colder months.
One of the most critical aspects of this preparation is ensuring that your pipes are protected from freezing temperatures.
Freeze breaks occur because water inside of the pipe will freeze, expand, and pop a hole the size of the Grand Canyon, or something as small as a needle. Then eventually, the pipe will thaw out and new water will make its way into the new world through that new door.
That new door often leads into your home, and has the potential to cause significant water damage, costly repairs, and potential mold growth.
Let’s explore the risks associated with freeze breaks and provide a comprehensive guide on how to prevent them.
Key Risks of Freeze Breaks
1. Extensive Water Damage
A freeze break in you pipes can release hundreds of gallons of water, damaging your home’s structure, electrical systems, and personal property.
Damage to your home’a structure and/or electrical system are not only inconvenient to your nightly Netflix routine, but they could potentially be hazardous to your health, if not deadly.
2. Costly Repairs
Repairing damage associated with a freeze break can be expensive. This includes not only fixing the initial break, but also repairing walls, floors, ceilings, structural integrity, electrical systems, HVAC Units, and any personal contents that may have been damaged.
3. Mold Growth
Water from a freeze break can lead to mold growth as early as 24 hours depending on the conditions of the loss. Mold remediation can be a complex and expensive process if left unchecked.
On top of that, in some cases, a large presence of mold may change if your loss is covered by insurance or not. With water and mold damage, time is not on your side.
4. Increased Insurance Premiums
Luckily for you as a homeowner, most policies cover sudden breaks leading to water loss. However, even the location of the break can affect what is covered or even worthy of a claim!
While insurance may cover some of the damage, frequent claims can lead to increased premiums, make you nonrenewable, or in the worst cases, policy cancellations.
5. Health Hazards
Long periods of time with excessive moisture usually lead to mold and mildew. Often times, freeze breaks occur in areas that are usually out of sight and out of mind, like a crawlspace.
The combination of a dark humid environment like a flooded crawlspace, is the perfect breading ground for mold and other bacterial growth. Mold and mildew can cause respiratory problems and other health issues, especially in individuals with: allergies, asthma, or any other condition that my leave them compromised.
5 Steps to Protect Your Home From Freeze Breaks
1. Insulate Pipes
Insulating your pipes is one of the most effective ways to prevent a freeze break. Focus on pipes located in unheated areas such as basements, attics, garages, and crawl spaces.
Pipe insulation sleeves and heat tape are great products, and they are easily obtainable in most hardware stores. Ensure that the insulation covers the entire length of the pipe, including joints and bends.
Most of this is easy to do and it is much more cost effective to implement these systems before you have a major loss. Most plumbers and contractors will offer services to help if you wish.
2. Seal Leaks and Cracks
One of the easiest ways for you to keep your pipes warm is to keep the warm air in, and the cold air out. Warm air will escape through any means necessary.
This makes it vital to make sure that any vents, cracks, or holes get sealed before the temperature drops in the area surrounding your pipes.
Use caulking, weatherstripping, foam or whatever product you need to seal these gaps. Pay particular attention to areas where pipes enter or exit your home, as these are common points for cold air infiltration.
This will not only help prevent freeze breaks but keep your home more efficient and keep energy costs lower.
3. Maintain a Consistent Temperature
Going hand in hand with step #2, your home should have a baseline temperature that is well above freezing. Most homes in the US have their homes between 65-75°F, you should set your home to the temperature that is best for you, however, you should not let it drop below 55°F.
If you plan to be away for a trip or any other extended absence from the property that would leave the space vacant, consider leaving a faucet dripping slightly to keep water moving through the pipes, or shutting the main water off altogether. A freeze break can not occur if there is no still water to freeze.
4. Drain Outdoor Faucets and Hoses
Before winter sets in, disconnect and drain all outdoor hoses.
Shut off the water supply to outdoor faucets and drain any remaining water to prevent the pipes from freezing. If your home has interior shut-off valves for outdoor faucets, close them and open the outdoor faucet to drain any trapped water.
This step can prevent a large portion of common freeze breaks that we commonly see in the winter months.
5. Open Cabinet Doors
In areas where pipes are located inside cabinets, such as under sinks, keep cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes.
This is particularly important in kitchens and bathrooms, which are often located on exterior walls. These kinds of losses are also generally in areas like basements or cabins where the temperature may not be as warm as the rest of the living space, or areas with poor insulation.
Additional Tips for Extreme Cold
In Central Washington we see that the temperature can drop dramatically, consider additional measures such as installing a pipe heating system or applying heat tape.
Have your attic and crawlspace inspected to see if there are any exposed pipes that need additional measures, like the heat tape or insulation wrap – make sure that insulation is installed well and is dry.
Consider installing a thermometer in places with poor heating, and make sure that seals on doors, windows, or any other cracks are tight and healthy. These solutions provide an extra layer of protection by maintaining the water temperature inside the pipes.
Monitoring and Maintenance
Regularly check your pipes for signs of wear or leaks, especially during the winter months. Early detection can prevent small issues from becoming major problems.
Additionally, ensure that your heating system is in good working order before winter arrives, as a failure during cold weather can lead to frozen pipes. If necessary, have your HVAC and/ furnace units inspected before major failures occur.
Conclusion
Winterizing your home is a crucial step in protecting your property from the costly and damaging effects of freeze breaks.
By following these preventative measures, you can safeguard your home against water damage and mold growth, ensuring a safe and comfortable winter season.
At Baxter Construction, Restoration, and Cleaning, we understand the importance of preparation and are here to assist you with any water or mold damage issues that may arise.
Our experienced team is IICRC certified and ready to help with insurance claims and restoration services while providing peace of mind during the challenging winter months.
Stay proactive, stay protected, and enjoy a worry-free winter in your well-prepared home.
