The article is about how to help prevent frozen water pipes. Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C in Plano, Texas provides maintenance & repairs for all brands of Central A/C, Gas & Electric Furnace, and Heat Pumps. Additionally, we sell and install new HVAC Systems from American Standard (same company as Trane), Ameristar (same company as American Standard) and Coleman HVAC (same company as York HVAC).
Al’s also provides full-service plumbing maintenance, repairs and replacements for every plumbing component in your home. Al’s sells and installs Rheem Professional Series gas & electric water heaters, and tankless water heaters. Al’s is near your home in Plano, TX; Allen, TX; and Frisco, TX. We service all homes in southern Collin and Denton Counties with no additional travel charge.
Call Al’s today to discuss any concerns or problems you have with your HVAC System or Plumbing. We’ll arrange an appointment at your convenience.
Ways To Help Prevent Frozen Water Pipes
Image Source: ShutterStock
Shown: A Frozen Water Pipe May Burst.
NOTE: This article is written for homes in north Texas and areas further south. While some suggestions apply to the entire U.S. — other suggestions don’t.
On A Side Note: Outdoor Faucets Are More Prone To Freezing Than Indoor Pipes
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Click Below To Learn Ways To Help Prevent Frozen Outdoor Faucets:
AlsPlumbing.com Help Prevent Frozen Outdoor Faucetsoutdoor-faucets/
If Your Garden-Hose Is Still Connected To An Outdoor Faucet — Remove It Today.
Frozen And Burst Water Pipes Cause Tremendous Water-Damage And Mold
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Shown: Water Damaged Home With Mold Growth From Water Leaks
- NationWide (Home Insurance) States: “The average damage claim for frozen water pipes that burst is $10,000.00” *
- The Cost To Repair The Burst Water Pipes Is A Fraction Of The Total Restoration Costs.
- Over the past decade, insurance companies have paid out $4 billion in claims due to frozen and burst water pipes. **
* Source: https://www.nationwide.com/frozen-pipes-prevention-tips.jsp
** Source: https://www.wxyz.com/news/5-ways-to-protect-your-pipes-from-freezing-as-bitter-cold-temperatures-hit-metro-detroit
Copy The Link Below Into Your Browser For A Brochure About Freezing & Bursting Water Pipes,
That Was Created By The Insurance Institute For Business And Home Safety:
https://allenton.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Freezing-Bursting-Pipes_IBHS.pdf *3
Why Causes A Frozen Water Pipe To Burst
Normal water pressure in a home is 30 — 80 pounds per square inch (PSI). When water freezes — it expands by 10%. This can cause the water pressure, between the ice — and a nearby closed faucet, to build up higher than 80 PSI– and the increased water pressure is what bursts the pipe. Water coming from the source (in the opposite direction from the ice) — can move backward, so there’s no pressure build-up in that direction. *3
TIP: When the outdoor temp will be 20 degrees (or lower) for 6 or more hours — live the Cold water faucets dripping. This won’t guarantee the pipe won’t freeze — but if it does freeze. the pressure build up can head to the open faucet — and the pipe won’t burst if pressure (from ice forming) doesn’t build up.
Which Water Pipes Are The Most Vulnerable
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Shown: Copper Water Pipe
Metal Pipes Are More Vulnerable To Bursting Than Flexible Water Lines (PEX):
- Metal water pipes are more prone to bursting due to freezing.
- PEX flexible water pipes (shown below) — are somewhat less prone to bursting due to freezing because they have more ability to expand (without damage) than metal pipes.
The Most Likely Locations For Frozen Water Pipes Are:
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Insulation Provides The Best Protection For Water Pipes
Water pipes located in uninsulated attics or crawl-spaces, and exterior walls are the most vulnerable to freezing. This is made worse if there are any gaps or openings that allow cold outdoor air to flow across the pipes. *3
- Water pipes in uninsulated attics — no insulation at the floor (the ceilings below) — not at the roof — are the most prone to freezing because attics are ventilated with outdoor air.
- Note: Attic ventilation’s purpose is to remove humidity and heat from the attic.
Image Source: Shutterstock
Shown: Metal, Turbine, Air-Exhaust Vents Are Common In Older DFW Homes
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Shown: Air-Intake Grill For Attic Ventilation Are Common In Older DFW Homes
Why Would Water Pipes Ever Be In An Attic?
In some areas of southern U.S. states — the winter temperatures allow flexible water pipes to be installed in the attic (with insulation over them).
This Includes DFW.
Image Source: ShutterStock
Shown: PEX Water Lines Being Installed In A New Home’s Attic
- In DFW, it’s common for replacement PEX flexible water pipes to be installed in the attic of existing homes — versus the enormous cost of digging under the home.
- Once installed, the new PEX water pipes must be covered with attic insulation to protect them from freezing.
- Some older DFW homes may still have flexible, Polybutylene (PB) flexible water pipes installed in the attic that’s uninsulated. PB pipes are nearly always gray.
Click Here To See Uninsulated Polybutylene Water Pipes Installed In An Attic: Uninsulated Polybutylene (PB) Water Pipes Installed In An Attic
- If you have PB pipes installed as shown in the photo (link provided) — cover them with foam pipe insulation. This style of foam has a slit pre-cut — to allow you to slip the foam onto the pipe (lenghtwise).
- The foam is available with different interior dimensions — to fit different water pipe sizes.
- This foam works equally well on metal water pipes.
Image Source: Amazon Embedded Link
Click On Image To; View Product, Read Details, or Purchase From Amazon.com.
Click Here To Learn More About Polybutylene (PB) Flexible Water Pipes: AlsPlumbing.com Polybutylene Water Pipes – Part1
Image Source: YouTube Embedded Video
Shown: Polybutylene (PB) flexible water pipes
At What Outdoor Temperature Can Frozen Water Pipes Occur?
Research conducted by the Building Research Council at the University Of Illinois determined that the: “Temperature Alert Threshold” for freezing water pipes = 20° F — for 6 or more hours. This is especially the case with uninsulated water pipes in uninsulated spaces.
Wind-chill affects anything that’s warm (like a house) — and makes water pipes, in uninsulated spaces and outside walls, more prone to freezing. Wind blowing can make the attic (in older DFW homes) colder — due to the quite large attic-vents on the sides of the home. Newer DFW homes have different attic ventilation than older ones.
Click On This Link To See A Quite Large Attic Vent: Large Attic Vent
Texas Homes’ Insulation Levels That Were Common — Or Became Required By Building Code Over The Years
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In DFW, temps below 20 degrees can be an issue for many older DFW homes that weren’t built to accommodate such cold temperatures. Also, DFW homes often have water pipes inside exterior walls. These pipes are generally against the drywall — with wall insulation between the water pipe and the outer edge of the exterior wall — if the walls are insulated.
Attic Insulation: Wall Insulation:
- 1950’s: none none
- 1965-1970: R-13 (3.5″ BATT) Wall Insulation: R-6 (2″ BATT)
- 1970’s: R-19 (6″ BATT) Wall R-6 (2″ BATT) *3
- 1980’s: R-30 (9″ Blown) Wall R-13 (3.5″ BATT) *4
- 2014–Today: R-38 (15″ Blown) Wall R-15 *5
- *3 Source: https://snuggpro.com/blog/item/many-homes-built-prior-to-1980-were-built-without-insulation-in-the-walls
- *4 Source: https://www.jlconline.com/how-to/insulation-code-change_o
- *5 As required by the 2012 Edition of the International Building Code (IBC)
What You Can Do To Help Prevent Frozen Water Pipes
Image Source: Shutterstock
Shown: Let Faucets Drip Whenever Outdoor Temps Drop To 20 Degrees (or lower) For 4 Hours (or longer).
When Temps Are Expected To Drop To 20 Degrees For At Lease 4 Hours:
- Let COLD Faucets Drip. No more than dripping is needed. A dripping faucet doesn’t guarantee the pipe won’t freeze. But, if the pipe freezes — an open faucet provides somewhere for the water to go, versus excessive pressure building between a faucet and the ice blockage. *3
- Seal any gaps around water or sewer pipes where they go through the wall. Cold air leaks into at gaps — and makes an outside wall even colder.
- If you reduce the heat while at work or overnight — set the thermostat no lower than 65 degrees until outdoor temperatures rise again.
- Open cabinet doors at the kitchen sink.
- Open cabinet doors at bathroom sinks.
- Leave shower curtains open if the tub or shower is on an outside wall.
- Keep the garage door closed. It helps keep the walls between the garage and living space warmer.
A Perfectly Operating Furnace Can Quit.
If You’re Going On Vacation During Winter:
- Shut off the main water valve
- Flush all toilets
- Open all faucets to allow water to drain from the pipes. This also allows for ice to form without creating pressure on the pipes.
- Be sure all drains are left open too. When you turn the water back on, you don’t want a flood from a forgotten faucet and closed drain.
Image Source: ShutterStock
Shown: Excessive Humidity Can Cause Mold Growth
Don’t Turn The Heat Off In An Unoccupied Home — Set It To 55. The interior of a home was never intended, nor expected, to be below freezing.
- Humidity can supply enough moisture for mold growth. *4
- Indoor relative humidity (RH) should be kept below 60%. The ideal range is 30% — 50%. *4
- All homes leak outdoor air into the home. The humidity leaks in too.
- An unheated home can have humidity build-up — which can lead to mold.
- Heating a home dries out the air.
*4 Source: https://www.epa.gov/mold/mold-course-chapter-2#:~:text=Sometimes%2C%20humidity%20or%20dampness%20(water,as%20cockroaches)%20and%20dust%20mites.
Freeze Damage Isn’t Limited To The Home’s Interior:
- Freeze Damage is physical damage to the property due to it having been frozen.
- When water (including humidity) freezes — it turns to ice and expands. This expansion can damage many home components (like drywall).
- Slab Foundation Homes (all homes in DFW are slab) Extensive Damage To Water Pipes Under The Concrete Floor Can Occur Due To Freezing.
- If Pipes Under The Slab Have Frozen And Are Damaged — There Are 2 Ways To Gain Access To The Pipes For Repairs Or Replacement:
- Bursting Through The Slab With A Jackhammer.
- Tunneling Under The Home. With tunneling — all work is performed from outside the home (from beneath it). The slab remains in 1 piece– as it was designed and built to always be.
In DFW, Don’t Turn The A/C Off In An Unoccupied Home — Set It To 80.
- DFW’s summer climate is described as: “Sub-Tropical”. This is due, in part, to high summer humidity.
- DFW’s average relative humidity in May = 66%. *5
- Indoor relative humidity (RH) should be kept below 60%. The ideal range is 30% — 50%. *4
- Humidity can supply enough moisture for mold growth. *4
- A closed-up house, in a high-humidity climate, is a candidate for mold growth. Mold needs only food (such as drywall or even dust) & moisture to establish and grow.
- Without the A/C running, there’s no way to remove humidity from indoor air.
- If you have ceiling fans — leave them on and set to low. This creates air movement that provides a drying effect.
- If you don’t have ceiling fans — add portable fans set to low.
*5 Source: https://weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Humidity-perc,dallas,United-States-of-America
If A Pipe’s Frozen — What You Can Do
If Nothing Appears Cracked Or Broken — You May Be Able To Thaw The Pipe Yourself.
- Begin heating the pipe from the faucet side — toward the frozen area.
- Turn on the nearest faucet (to the frozen pipe) — to allow water to flow once pipes thaw.
- Use a hairdryer set to high heat. Move it back and forth across the frozen pipe.
- Or, wrap an electric heating pad around the pipe.
- Use an ELECTRIC space heater near the pipe. Set it to oscillate if it has that feature. Otherwise, move it left and right every 10 minutes.
Note:
- Don’t use space heaters that burn fuel inside your home. When fuel burns, it creates Carbon Monoxide (CO2). High levels of CO2 will make you sick — and a very high level will kill.
- Never use an open flame to heat pipes. It can damage pipes — and presents a major fire hazard.
The article was about how to help prevent frozen indoor water pipes. Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C in Plano, Texas provides maintenance & repairs for all brands of Central A/C, Gas & Electric Furnace, and Heat Pumps. Additionally, we sell and install new HVAC Systems from American Standard (same company as Trane), Ameristar (same company as American Standard) and Coleman HVAC (same company as York HVAC).
Al’s also provides full-service plumbing maintenance, repairs, and replacements for every plumbing component in your home. Al’s sells and installs Rheem Professional Series gas & electric water heaters, and tankless water heaters. Al’s is near your home in Plano, TX; Allen, TX; and Frisco, TX. We service all homes in southern Collin and Denton Counties with no additional travel charge.
Call Al’s today to discuss any concerns or problems you have with your HVAC System or Plumbing. We’ll arrange an appointment at your convenience.