How to Keep Your Pipes from Freezing on a Holiday Trip
Off to the holidays and concerned you might find a flooded basement when you get back? Or are you at a loss as to what your plumbing is up to in an empty house come the height of a South Dakota winter?
You would be hard pressed to find anyone who has not put such questions to himself. At Sioux Falls Plumbing, LLC we do; we are a family business and locals who serve all of Eastern South Dakota, and every winter there is a homeowner who has made a trip and come back to a frozen mess. The fact is that with a little forethought a frozen pipe can be put off entirely. For a professional opinion before you make your departure, pick up the phone at (605) 937-7450.
The point of a winter getaway is to have some good food and time with family, to get away from it all. You do not want to return to a living room with water damage. We will tell you what makes pipes freeze and how to put a stop to it.
The Reason for Frozen Pipes
Freezing water expands. In a closed pipe the ice has no outlet and the resulting pressure will crack or burst the pipe. What is worse is there may be no leak to speak of until the ice has had a chance to thaw, so you could be days out of town before the damage is apparent.
Leave the heat low in an unoccupied home and you have trouble brewing. Pipes in the garage, crawl space, an unheated basement or against an outside wall are prime candidates.
What to Do Before You Go
Most people think they have to go to great lengths to put their mind at ease but our recommendations are straightforward:
- A thermostat below 55 is not worth the risk. You may be tempted to put one down to put a few dollars in your pocket, but a broken pipe is a far steeper price.
- Give the pipes under your sinks some air by opening the cabinet doors, on the kitchen or bathroom side of the house in particular.
- Put a slight drip on a faucet. Water in motion resists the cold better than if it is left to stand.
- Any garden hoses should be put away and the outdoor spigots shut off.
- Caulk or insulate where you see cold air making its way in near a pipe.
- Make note of the main shutoff valve’s position so it can be turned off in a hurry should the need arise.
Turning Off the Water Entirely
For an absence of more than a couple of days, the surest thing to do is to cut the main water supply. Then let a couple of faucets run to get the last of the water out of the lines; with the pipes dry there is nothing to burst.
Do not be hasty about this however. Some fire suppression systems or types of heating will not allow for a full shutoff. If you are in any doubt, we are happy to advise you.
Have Someone Look Things Over
A friend or neighbor dropping in once in a while is perhaps the simplest precaution. They can spot a small leak before it is something that requires major repairs. Just be sure they have your number and know where the shutoff is.
If You Think There is a Problem
Careful as they may be, some homeowners still have to deal with a frozen pipe. A trickle from the tap is a sign it has happened. Do not put it off, the quicker you act the less likely you are to have a burst on your hands.
Should you walk in on a pipe that has given out, your first move is to shut off the water and put in a call to a licensed plumber. With our Hurco liquid smoke technology we can put our hands on the source of a leak in short order, even if it is concealed in a wall.
No Worries When You Travel
Your plumbing should not be on your mind during the holidays. We are an honest, non-commissioned operation so you will not be cajoled into services of no use to you. Licensed and insured, we do residential and commercial jobs in Sioux Falls and the towns around it including Harrisburg, Tea, Hartford, Brandon, Dell Rapids and Canton. Free estimates are part of the package.
Our hours are 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 12 to 8 on Saturday and 5 to 8 on Sunday. Call (605) 937-7450 and you can leave with confidence.
