One of the most pressing problems many households and businesses face during winter is the freezing of outdoor water pipes. As temperatures plummet, water inside the pipes freezes, causing a decrease in water pressure or even a complete interruption of water supply.
In addition, frozen water pipes are prone to expansion and rupture, leading to water leakage problems. This not only causes inconvenience in domestic water use but also causes industrial production to stagnate, resulting in huge economic losses.
That is why the importance of outdoor water pipe insulation cannot be ignored, as it keeps the water moving and extends the lifespan of the pipes. So, how to keep outside pipes from freezing this winter? Let’s see.
How to Protect Exterior Pipes from Freezing?
Preventing pipelines from freezing in the winter and maintaining outdoor water pipe insulation requires some thorough planning. Here is how to protect exterior pipes from freezing:
1. Insulate the Pipes
The first step to protecting water pipes is to do outdoor water pipe insulation. When you insulate water pipes outside by adding insulation around exposed parts, it traps warmth and shields them from the freezing air.
Foam pipe covers, heat tape, or fiberglass wraps all make good insulation for outdoor pipes. When you insulate outdoor water pipes, you also save electricity used in thawing the water apart from protecting the pipes from cold snaps.
2. Turn on the Indoor Heating System
Besides the outdoor water pipe insulation, another simple yet effective way to prevent water freezing is by turning on the heating inside your home or business.
Even if the temperature is low outside, maintaining warmth indoors will help keep pipes in areas like attics, washrooms, or kitchens from reaching freezing temperatures. You don’t need to heat up your spaces to a huge extent, just make sure that you are maintaining a steady indoor temperature.
In addition, it is difficult for hot air to pass from cabinets to external pipes. Therefore, remember to open the cabinet doors under each sink to allow hot air to enter below the sink.
3. Leave the Water Running
There is also an effective way to stop the water from freezing without investing in outdoor water pipe insulation: let a small stream of water run through your outdoor pipes. It keeps the water from stagnating and freezing inside the pipes.
A slow drip from an outdoor faucet is enough to ensure water flows through and prevents ice buildup. While this might slightly increase your water bill, it is a worthwhile precaution as pipe replacement and maintenance are a larger expense.
How to Thaw Pipelines?
If your pipes keep on freezing despite using outdoor water pipe insulation, don’t worry. Here are a few steps you can take to safely thaw them by doing exterior pipe insulation.
1. Locate the Frozen Areas
Start by identifying the exact place where the pipe is frozen. Look for signs of expansion, deformation, and low or no water pressure from a faucet. If you notice this, trace the pipe from the faucet back to its source, feeling for any cold spots. These colder areas are likely where the pipe is frozen. Pay close attention to areas near outdoor walls, attics, or basements, as these are common places for freezing.
2. Heat the Frozen Area
Once you have located the frozen section, gently heat it to melt the ice. For this purpose, you can use:
- Hot towel: Soak the towel in hot water, wring it out, and apply it to a frozen pipe. Change the towel every few minutes until the ice melts.
- Warm water: Use hot water to flush frozen pipes, but be careful not to use high-temperature water to avoid pipe rupture due to excessive temperature difference.
- Hair dryer: Use hair dryers to heat the frozen area, maintain an appropriate distance, and avoid local overheating.
- Heat tape: You can use a heating strip to wrap the frozen pipes and heat them evenly until the ice melts.
Avoid using an open flame, as it may crack the pipe or even start a fire. A gradual and steady application of heat will safely thaw the pipe without causing additional damage.
3. Sprinkle Salt in the Frozen Area
If the pipe is still frozen after applying heat, sprinkling salt directly on the affected area can help. Salt is able to lower the melting point of ice, which will accelerate the thawing process. This is a simple and effective way to deal with minor freezing, but it’s important to ensure that the pipe is not exposed to salt for too long to avoid corrosion.
4. Call Professional Plumbers
If you are unable to safely thaw the pipeline or if the problem persists, it’s time to call a professional plumber. The longer the pipe freezes, the greater the possibility of breaking.
Experts have the right tools and techniques to thaw pipes safely without causing further damage. They can also check for cracks or leaks that might have developed from the freeze and help you achieve the necessary outdoor water pipe insulation.
Order High-quality Water Pipes
If your pipe system, unfortunately, ruptures due to severe cold this winter, it is crucial to choose high-quality water pipes to avoid long-term water supply interruptions or leaks that could affect the structural safety of the entire building. LESSO brings top-tier water pipe products for many households and engineering projects, which is known for:
- Good temperature performance: Contact LESSO’s sales representative and inform them of the temperature range in your area, and they will recommend suitable pipe materials for you.
- High strength and impact resistance: Their water pipe is made of high-quality materials and has excellent impact resistance, which can effectively resist external pressure and mechanical impact.
- Easy installation: The connection method of the plastic water pipe is simple, effectively reducing installation costs.
- Long service life: LESSO water pipes focus on durability in both design and materials, with long service life and reduced replacement frequency.
- Widely used: Pipes made of various materials can meet the needs of household water supply industrial and municipal water supply.
Wrapping-Up
Freezing outdoor pipes can cause serious disruptions and costly repairs, which makes the outdoor water pipe insulation non-negotiable. For durable and high-quality solutions, LESSO presents a range of high-quality pipes that offer excellent flexibility and strength for various weather conditions. Contact them now for a durable solution for you!