Generally speaking – it takes about 6 hours for water pipes to freeze if they are left in an unheated area. So, if you lose the heat in your home and the temperature outside goes below freezing then know that you have abou 6 hours before your pipes begin to freeze.
So, will pipes freeze in a house with no heat? – The answer is yes if the temperature is low enough for long enough.
The damage that could be caused by frozen pipes can be extensive.
In fact, the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety reports that the damage from frozen pipes can run as high as $5,000! When you compare that expense to the cost of pipe insulation (about .50 per linear foot) and drywall repair after the pipes have been insulated then it makes sense to be preventive versus risking burst pipes due to freezing temperatures.
How Cold Does It Have To Be In Your House For The Pipes To Freeze?
Generally speaking – freezing occurs when the temperature is at 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below. But for pipes to freeze – the general notion is that the temperature needs to dip to 20 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
Can Pipes Freeze If The Water Is Turned Off?
Your water pipes will have water left in them even if you haven’t used them for awhile. If these pipes are not properly insulated or drained, when the temperature gets to freezing or below – that water will freeze. And when it does, it expands taking up more space in the pipe than when it was liquid. The pressue in that pipe can go from 40 lbs per square inch up to 40,000 psi – that’s a tremendous amount of pressure.
The best thing to do to help protect your pipes when and if the temperature dips below 20 degrees Fahrenheit is to follow the steps below.
How Do You Stop Pipes From Bursting In The Winter?
If the weather reports temperatures will hit 20 degrees or lower – this is your alert to take the following steps to keep your pipes from freezing and eventually bursting.
1) Keep your garage doors closed to retain as much heat as you can inside your garage.
2) Open the kitchen and bathroom cabinets (in case there are any pipes behind those cabinets).
3) Turn a faucet on so that water drips (leave it on while the temperature is 20 degrees or lower). This forces water to run through the pipes and helps to prevent sitting water from freezing.
4) Keep your thermostat at the same temperature during the day and night.
5) Any insulation that you can add to your home, in the walls, wrapping pipes, windows, cracks in doors, etc. will help to prevent your water pipes from bursting and creating an expensive mess.
These steps will help you to prevent burst pipes and the damage to your home that could be caused by that.
If you have any questions about frozen water pipes or are having some problems with this issue, call Atlantis Plumbing today at 770-505-8570. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.