Prevent Frozen Pipes in Houston
Essential Tips from Your Local Houston Plumber
As temperatures drop this week in Houston, many clients are asking, “How can I prevent bursting and frozen pipes?” Here are essential tips from your trusted Houston area plumber to prevent your pipes from freezing during frigid weather:
Why Does It Happen?
During frigid weather, water freezes and expands. This expansion can cause water pipes to burst, leading to potential flooding in your home or business. Pipes located near outside walls, such as outdoor hose bibs, pool lines, and sprinkler systems, are most susceptible to freezing. Other vulnerable areas include attics, crawl spaces, and garages.
What Do I Do?
The single most important thing to know before the cold hits is "where the shutoff valve is and how to use it."Knowing how to shut off the water supply can prevent severe flooding and damage from bursting pipes. Ensure every member of your household understands this crucial information.
To locate your shutoff valve, find the outside water line that leads to your home. The valve is typically located near the water meter or where the water line enters the structure, often on internal pipes near outside walls.
How to Prevent Frozen Pipes
1. Insulate Exposed Pipes: Protect all exposed water piping, especially in unheated areas such as crawl spaces, attics, garages, and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Both hot and cold water pipes in these areas should be insulated.
2. Protect Valves and Outdoor Faucets: Cover all outside exposed water line shutoff valves, outdoor faucets, water softener equipment, pool equipment, and sprinkler system backflow preventers. Use old towels, newspapers, plastic bags, overturned buckets, and trash cans to insulate and protect these areas.
3. Keep Garage Doors Closed: If there are water supply lines in your garage, keep the doors closed tightly.
4. Open Cabinet Doors: Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Ensure child safety measures are in place.
5. Maintain Consistent Thermostat Settings: Keep your thermostat set to the same temperature both day and night during cold snaps. If you are leaving for an extended period, set your thermostat no lower than 60°F.
6. Turn Off and Drain Water if Temps Drop Below 20°F for 4+ Hours:
Step 1: Fill tubs with water to use for flushing toilets.
Step 2: Turn off the main water supply at a freeze-protected shutoff valve or at the meter (using a water key).
Step 3: Turn on all plumbing fixtures to allow expansion if pipes freeze. Leave them on until water is restored.
7. Return to Normal When Temps Rise Above 25°F:
Ensure water flow is restored and check for potential leaks before turning off faucets.
Additional Tips:
If you turned off water for freeze prevention, also turn off the ice machine, unplug circulating pumps, open attic access for heat circulation, and open house doors to the garage if plumbing is present.
For pools or outdoor fountains, run the pump continuously during freezes.
For outdoor kitchens, turn off water shutoff valves and cover faucets.
Backflow Preventer Freeze Protection for Sprinkler/Irrigation Systems:
Turn off the incoming valve and open test ports to bleed them.
Insulate exposed pipes and cover the system with a trash bag or large plastic trash can.
Water Heater Considerations:
Traditional Tank Water Heaters: Should be fine during the freeze.
Tankless Water Heaters: Most have freeze protection with power. Ensure pipes are insulated, and if mounted outside, contact our office for specific guidance.
Power Outage: Tankless water heaters may have issues. Call our office at 281.240.6868 for assistance based on your model.
By following these tips, you can help protect your home's plumbing from freezing and bursting. For more advice or professional plumbing services in the Houston area, contact Arrow Plumbing today. Your local Houston plumber is here to keep your pipes safe and your home comfortable all winter long.
