Prevent Frozen Pipes

Here in Vancouver frozen pipes is not as common a plumbing problem as in Alberta, but can happen without proper protection.  And if you look at the last few years in Vancouver, our winters have had a little more cold weather, with snow staying longer than usual.

Building codes are different in BC than in Alberta for instance so there may be un-insulated pipes that run the risk of freezing and bursting if left exposed to the elements. If temperatures drop far enough and a pipe is allowed to freeze completely, ice will expand and break through the pipe. Once it warms up you’ve got a problem.

If it’s still warm outside and you feel like doing something worthy, you can protect yourself from expensive water damage by checking your pipes for proper insulation or to find exposure. Pipe insulation is your first line of defense against frozen pipes.  Check out what the hardware store has in stock.  They will be able to tell you which insulation works best in this climate, and where you should look for problems.

Backflow Prevention

If it’s cold outside and you notice a reduction in water pressure, that is your warning sign that you may have a section of frozen plumbing. Catch this soon enough and you can fix the problem yourself.

It’s recommended that you should shut off water supply once you detect frozen pipes. You will want to thaw them out slowly so not to damage the pipes. If it warms up too fast and happens to boil, it could expand too fast and damage the pipe possibly splitting them open, so don’t use open flame.

Here are a few ways to warm up a frozen pipe safely

• Hot rags wrapped around the pipe a few times
• Electric heating strips
• A heater with a fan
• Use your blow-dryer

Meet The Plumbing Code

If you’re able to check your pipes before temperatures drop in the fall, you can save yourself some grief by knowing if your house is weather proofed the right way or not. Check any pipes near the outside walls and insulate the exposed ones. If they are already wrapped, then at least you have the comfort of knowing you’re covered.