If your pipes freeze ...

It’s not that cold right now, but back in February, we went through a mighty cold snap. And some people in Central Saskatchewan found themselves experiencing one of the worst things that can happen home in the extreme cold of Canada – frozen or bust pipes.

Your water pipes carry water – obviously. But the pipes in unheated areas, or near uninsulated exterior walls, can be susceptible to incredibly low temperatures, and the water can freeze. If you’ve ever turned on the tap in a particularly cold period of weather and had nothing come out, you’ll know exactly what we are talking about. And, since water expands when frozen, this can lead to burst pipes.  And, a steep repair bill.

The most important thing you can do is prevent frozen pipes. This means adding  high-quality insulation to all exterior walls and any exterior pipes. Make sure to consider pipes in crawl spaces, the attic and the garage. You can use foam pipe covers that are available at home improvement stores to directly insulate exposed pipes. Find and address any major air leaks that will bring frigid outside temperatures, inside.

“ If you have an area that is prone to frozen pipes,  consider running a thin stream of water at all times in particularly frigid temperatures. ”

Inside your house: if you have unheated areas of the home with water pipes, you’ll want to add a heating source, or access to warmer air (like opening cabinet doors for pipes that are underneath the sink, to allow better warm air circulation). If you have an area that is prone to frozen pipes,  consider running a thin stream of water at all times in particularly frigid temperatures. This is only a last resort for prevention, as it will obviously increase your water bill  -- but, could give you some peace of mind if you have experienced frozen pipes before. 

If your pipes do burst, you also need to always make sure you know where your main water shut off valve  is located.  You don’t want to be frantically searching for it as your house fills with water! You will also need this valve if you are going to be leaving your home for an extended period of time during the winter months. Turn off the valve and turn on a cold water tap somewhere in the house to drain any water that remains in the pipes. 

If you find yourself with frozen pipes, turn on a cold water tap in the basement, apply heat where you can, and then call in the professionals. We can deal look for and repair any cracks or leaks and address the problem without causing further damage.