5 Ways To Prevent Burst Pipes

5 Ways To Prevent Burst Pipes

Photo by pan xiaozhen on Unsplash

Why do pipes burst?

One of the most common causes of a burst pipe is frozen water, if water freezes, the volume expands which causes a build up of pressure. As the pressure increases, it becomes too much for the structure, and bursts the pipe open. Pipes usually burst at a weak spot, or where ice has formed. To prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting, there are many things that you can do.

1 . Insulate your pipes

If you want to prevent your pipes from freezing you should buy insulation that’s designed for pipes. There are several different types of pipe insulation that you can purchase including foam insulation, polyethylene or fiberglass. Eco-friendly insulation options include sheep’s wool, denim or aerogel. Choosing eco-friendly options can help you to reduce your carbon footprint and even save money.

2. Run your taps

If you leave a tap running this can stop your pipes from freezing. Certainly don’t leave all the faucets in your house running! Figure out which taps are connected to exposed piping, and then leave these taps on (a small amount) during colder weather. Doing so will stop ice build ups and relieve the pressure on your pipes. Running your taps is one of the simplest ways to avoid pipes bursting.

3. Turn on the heat

During the winter you should leave the heat on even when you are away from your property. You don’t need to leave it on full, but just around 14-15 degrees will do. Your heating bill might be a little higher, (but it’s much better than burst pipes)!

4. Try heating tape 

Heating tape is a great way to prevent burst pipes, you’ll only be able to use this if you can easily get to your pipes. This kind of tape is especially useful for basements, and loft spaces. You can buy either manual heating tape, or self-monitoring tape. Manual tapes needed to be plugged in, and self-monitoring switches on and off (with the use of sensors). With the right home maintenance checks you’ll keep your home safe and healthy.

5. Fix gaps 

Check your property for any cracks, openings and holes. You should check your windows, walls and door frames. You can use caulk to cover up any holes in your walls, or even around the piping. When you fix gaps this will help your home to keep in warm air. There are many other general ways that you can protect your pipes, such as:

  • Use fans to circulate heat around cold rooms.
  • Ensure that cabinet doors are left open, (helps warm air to get to the pipes).
  • Close your garage door.
  • Remove garden hoses from your faucets outside.

Using all these tips will help you to take good care of your pipes and protect your home during the winter. It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to repair a broken pipe yourself. In the unfortunate event that your pipes burst you’ll need to contact a burst pipe restoration company. These companies can carry out the correct repairs, and help you to prevent further problems in the future.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.