During the winter, we advise landlords to take a few simple measures to protect against frozen pipes and burst pipes. These measures could save you thousands of pounds in damages to your rental property.
Why frozen pipe bursts?
When the temperature drops, water in pipes freezes. When this happens, they can burst, causing flooding and damage to property.
The reason that frozen pipes burst is that water expands as it freezes. It's a common misconception that freezing water will make it contract, but this isn't true. As ice forms in your pipes, it pushes against the walls of the pipe and swells them outwards—the pressure on the side of the tube increases dramatically. This causes cracks in the pipe's structure, which eventually lead to a full rupture.
How can you tell if your pipes have frozen?
If you're not sure whether or not your pipes are frozen, here are some signs that may indicate you have frozen pipes:
- You hear a thumping sound coming from your plumbing system. This is often a sign of water flowing through ice-filled pipes.
- Your faucets have been running for an unusually long time and still aren't producing any hot water.
- There is a constant hissing sound coming from your plumbing system. This could be caused by trapped air or water vapor escaping from a burst pipe.
How to Protect Pipes from Freezing?
- If you have any cracks or gaps in your wall that allow cold air to get inside, consider adding caulk to fill them up. This will help keep the cold air out and prevent it from seeping into your home through cracks and crevices.- Make sure that your water meter is accessible so that you can turn off the water supply if necessary (if you've had freezing problems in the past).
- The outside water meter should be covered with insulation during cold weather so that it doesn't get too cold and freeze up while you're away at work or asleep at night. The temperature around your Insulate your outside meter should remain above zero degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) so that you don't experience any problems with frozen pipes when you return home after work or school each day!
- Consider installing insulation near plumbing lines and exterior walls to keep them warmer. The best type of insulation is rigid foam board with an R rating of at least R-5 (anything lower will not be effective). This will help keep heat where it belongs: inside your home!
- If you have an outdoor water supply such as a tap in the garden, you may be able to prevent freezing damage by draining the pipe. This can be done by opening up the tap on the outside and closing the valve on the inside of your home. Make sure no water remains in the pipe before allowing it to freeze.
- If you are forced to deal with flooding, be sure that you check for black mould, which can be more harmful to your home than the flooding itself.
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