Having water lines freeze off can be more than just an inconvenience; frozen lines can result in significant property damage and expensive repairs. Water expands when it freezes, meaning that frozen water lines can burst and cause water to spray out into a home. However, there are some simple things that people can do to reduce the risks of water lines freezing, even in the most frigid of temperatures.
Insulate Crawlspaces
Most frozen pipes occur in crawlspaces, though freezing can also occur in basements and anywhere the pipes contact a cold exterior wall. In order to prevent these areas from reaching freezing temperatures, it is important to insulate them from the cold outside air. Though foam insulation board can be secured to the inside of walls when needed, often all that is needed to keep these areas above freezing is to caulk cracks and gaps and to close fresh air vents. When safe to do so, space heaters can be used to warm crawlspaces and basements.
Open Cabinets
Kitchen and bathroom cabinets are typically located against the exterior wall of a home. This means that the supply lines that run through the cabinets to faucets are generally quite cold. When the temperatures fall at night, the water in these cold pipes can quickly freeze. To prevent pipes from freezing under cabinets, it is important for the cabinet doors under a sink to be left open on cold nights. By opening the doors, heated air from the living area of the home can help to keep the pipes warm. A small electric heater blowing into the cabinets can also help to prevent pipes from freezing.
Pipe Insulation
Wherever pipes are susceptible to freezing, such as in a crawlspace, they should be insulated against the cold air. According to Apple Valley Plumbing Co., “Though there are various types of insulation that can be used on pipes, the easiest and least expensive is foam pipe insulation. This insulation is sold in various lengths and is simply slipped over the pipes. This insulation is quick and easy to install and no tools are needed. Pipe insulation will also help keep pipes from lying against cold exterior walls.”
Heat Tape
Exterior water lines which are exposed to the cold outside air in crawlspaces or other areas can be warmed with heat tape. Heat tape is ran along the exposed length of the pipe and secured to the pipe. For best results, the heat tape can then be covered with insulation. When the heat tape is plugged in and the temperature nears freezing, the tape will sense the cold and begin to warm. This warmth will be transferred to the pipes and will keep the water in the pipes from freezing.
Trickling Water
As moving water is much more difficult to freeze than water that is not moving, people can leave the water in their homes trickling to prevent freezing. Water should be left trickling in the lowest faucet in each room that has water. For example, the bathtub spigots should be allowed to run in each bathroom and the faucet should be allowed to run in the kitchen and laundry rooms. Both the cold and hot water should be allowed to trickle as each line can freeze. When temperatures are particularly cold, the flow of water can be increased to prevent freezing. As it is wasteful and potentially expensive to allow water to run, the water should be left running only in the coldest weather when there is no other way to prevent the water pipes from freezing.
http://www.stpaul.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/3679
http://www.ashevillenc.gov/portals/0/city-documents/Water/Tip-to-Prevent-Frozen-Water.pdf
