As with each New Year, 2014 brought hopes for good fortune, opportunity for new experiences…and a polar vortex.
In New England we are accustomed to freezing temperatures, but the crippling, Arctic-like air that swept through the region last week reminded us of the perils of home ownership that may arise in such conditions. Of these perils, pipe bursts are among the most common and recently have become widespread throughout Massachusetts. Last week 35 people in Lawrence were evacuated from their homes when a pipe burst inside their building. The same issue affected Brigham and Women’s Hospital, causing patients to be moved to other hospitals.
How can you prevent frozen pipes from ruining your New Year? Here’s some useful knowledge and a few helpful tips.
How does cold air cause a pipe to burst?
Before addressing prevention and treatment of burst pipes, it is important to understand why pipes are prone to bursting in cold temperatures. Contrary to popular belief, the ice that forms and expands within the pipe is not the culprit; the burst actually results from the built up pressure between the ice blockage and the closed faucet.
Now that winter is upon us, here are some suggestions on how to prevent the bursting of pipes in your home:
- Wrap your pipes with insulation. Be generous with the wrapping. The more insulated the pipe, the less likely it is to freeze.
- Any cracks or holes in the walls or foundation of your house should be sealed in order to minimize pipes’ exposure to cold air.
- For plumbing that is hard to reach, open kitchen and bathroom cabinets in order to increase warm air flow to the pipes.
- Let the water drip from the faucet in order to alleviate built up pressure in the pipe.
- If you are going to be away during a cold
- spell, make sure your heat is turned no lower than 55°F.
If you suspect a pipe is frozen, pipe up!
If you turn on a faucet and little or no water comes out, call a plumber. Turn off the main water supply but remember to keep the faucet open. If you are keen on thawing the pipe yourself, apply a small heat source (hairdryer, towels soaked in hot water, etc.) starting at the faucet end. Remember to keep the faucet open. Under no circumstances should you attempt thawing the pipe with an open flame. Exposure to fire is harmful to the pipe.
For additional information on frozen pipe treatment:
- Weather.com’s home tips for frozen pipes
- American Red Cross’ prevention tips for frozen pipes
- Additional frozen pipe prevention tips
Headquartered in Boston, Bunker Hill Insurance provides home insurance to customers in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Bunker Hill is a member of The Plymouth Rock Group of Companies, which together write and manage over $1 billion in homeowners and auto insurance throughout the northeast.