Protect Yourself From Burst Water Pipe Damage In 5 Easy Steps

The "polar vortex" has reared its ugly head once again. We're barely into fall in the mid-south and we've already been slammed with freezing temperatures, and even a little bit of frozen precipitation. If this is any indication of things to come this winter, Memphis area residents had better get prepared now.

Many of you probably remember the deep winter freeze we had the first week of January this year. Temperatures dropped into the teens and twenties and stayed there for two days, causing pipes all over the area to crack. When the weather warmed up a little, the leaking and spraying began, in most cases while people were at work or still out of town for the holidays. A lot of folks came home to a big, wet mess that day. We encountered several customers walking around their homes in rubber boots, staring despairingly at their caved-in ceilings and ruined floors and furniture. It was a terrible way for them to start off the new year.

The aftermath of a collapsed ceiling due to a burst water pipe.

So, how do you protect yourself from a similar fate? Well, sometimes it happens no matter what you do, but most frozen pipe disasters we've encountered could have been prevented with a little knowledge and action. Here are five easy steps to help you prevent the sorrow and regret of flooding from a burst water pipe:

1. Keep your home heated to a reasonable level. Even if you're not going to be home (or perhaps especially if you're not going to be home) keep your thermostat set to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. You would think that this is a no brainer, but a lot of people who leave home when the weather is mild forget to make sure the heat is set to come on if the temperature drops. If you're leaving town for the holidays, add "set the thermostat" to your pre-trip checklist, right next to "make sure the cat isn't trapped in a closet" (long story, happy ending).

2. Check your insulation. Even with heat running in the house, you still need to make sure the pipes that run through exterior walls, crawl spaces and attics are insulated properly. While we can only hope the builders of our homes adequately insulated our pipes, we can definitely check any exposed pipes in the attic or in crawl spaces and add insulation to them, as well as cover foundation vents and insulate garden hose spigots.

If you're concerned that pipes in your exterior walls might not have enough insulation, there are things you can do. The most proactive step would be to open up the wall and add extra insulation before cold weather hits. You might even want to install a permanent access panel in the wall while you're at it so you can warm the pipes during extreme cold spells. Otherwise, you can always try adding an extra layer of protection by temporarily attaching a piece of foam board to the outside wall that contains those pipes until the freeze threat is over. That extra barrier from a cold wind might make the difference. It might even help if you blow additional heat directly onto the wall from the inside with a space heater (at a safe distance, of course). Do this only if you're going to be home and can fully supervise it.

3. Drip your faucets. Some experts say slowly dripping your faucets will help prevent frozen pipes. The idea is that keeping the water moving prevents it from freezing. Other experts say that doesn't really help, and could even result in water damage from an overflow if your drain becomes clogged or frozen. It's hard to say for sure who is right, but my opinion is to go ahead and drip the faucets if you can be there to keep an eye on it, or at least periodically turn the faucets on and off. That might relieve pressure if the water inside the pipe begins to freeze and expand. And if it's a sink along an outside wall (like many kitchen sinks), don't forget to leave open the cabinet door below to prevent the drain pipe from freezing.  

4. Watch for the signs of a problem. Frozen pipes don't automatically mean burst pipes, although it's pretty likely that they will burst most of the time. Burst pipes don't automatically mean a flood in your house either; you just have to pay attention to the signs and react appropriately. Remember that the most critical time in a freeze scenario is the thaw, not the freeze. If you notice a loss in water pressure during a winter freeze, or no water at all, you need to take action before the pipes thaw and water begins to spray. You'll want to call a plumber as soon as you notice a problem. Don't wait until the thaw begins and everyone else in town is trying to get a plumber. Choose a qualified professional before you need one, and get on his or her schedule early. Even if your pipe hasn't burst yet, the plumber might be able to help you thaw it properly and avoid a problem. That leads us to the next step:

5. Know how to shut off your main water supply.  If you suspect your pipes are frozen, shut off your main water supply to the house and leave your faucets open. Shutting off the water supply will prevent a big water disaster by cutting of the supply of new water. Leaving your faucets on will relieve pressure as the ice begins to thaw. When your pipes thaw and you turn the water back on, do it slowly and watch for any signs of leaking before opening it back up to full pressure. 

Now, being able to take this important step depends on one important factor: Knowing the location of your main water shut off and how to operate it. You might have an interior shut off valve, which can be shut off by simply turning a knob. Otherwise, you'll have to shut your water off at the meter, usually located in your front yard near the road. If you have to shut it off at the meter, you'll need a meter wrench to do it. Make sure you have one. Practice shutting off the main water before a freeze happens. That way you can be sure the valve handle isn't stuck when an emergency occurs.  

As always, if you do happen to find yourself ankle deep (or even toe deep) in water for any reason, the experts at ServiceMaster by Cornerstone are available for emergency service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our phone number is (901) 624-9200. Enter it into your phone along with your plumber's number. You might be glad you did.