Emerging from a winter storm and some regions still in the throes of winter we have seen many claims surrounding frozen pipes. Frozen pipes and subsequent bursts can cause significant property damage.
How do pipes burst and what you can do to prevent them from bursting?
When water freezes inside of a pipe it creates an ice dam. As the ice expands inside of the pipe the pressure of the trapped water greatly increases. Eventually, the pipe will burst at its weakest point, which will release hundreds of, if not thousands of, gallons of water that were trapped behind the ice dam. You can prevent this by turning off your pipes overnight during extreme cold weather. In regions that are exposed to greater degrees of freezing weather during the winter, pipes in homes and commercial spaces could be designed with Pex piping that withstand expansion caused by an ice dam better than metal or plastic piping.
Pipes freeze at varying rates. As a generalization, you can see pipes freeze in 20 degree weather that holds for 6 hours. If these pipes do not have any insulation, then it could take as little as three hours for your pipes to freeze.
Recommendations for your Home and Business
If you experienced a pipe bursting this winter or fear that it could happen to you in the future you should consider inspecting them for better insulation or replacement.
Are you properly insured? Frederick Mutual offers coverage for service lines that run water to your home or commercial property. If you would like to receive a quote to see if your home or business qualifies for service line insurance coverage to make sure your pipes and living and workspaces are adequately insured during the winter months, please contact our team at marketing@frederickmutual.com!