In this article4 sections
Moncton winters are serious. When temperatures drop below –15°C, which happens regularly between December and February, unprotected pipes in exterior walls, crawl spaces, unheated garages and under kitchen sinks are at real risk of freezing. A frozen pipe doesn’t just cut off your water. When it thaws, it can burst, and a burst pipe inside a wall or ceiling can do tens of thousands of dollars in damage before you know it’s happening.
The good news: frozen pipes are almost entirely preventable. The steps are simple and most cost very little. Here’s what to do before the cold arrives, and what to do if a line has already frozen.
Before the cold: prevention
- Insulate exposed pipes. Any pipe in an unheated space (crawl space, garage, exterior wall cavity) should be wrapped in foam pipe insulation. It’s cheap and takes about an hour.
- Seal air leaks near pipes. Cold air getting in is often the real cause of freezing, not just the outdoor temperature. Check where pipes pass through exterior walls and seal the gaps with spray foam.
- Disconnect and drain garden hoses. A connected hose traps water in the outdoor tap and the pipe behind it. Disconnect hoses before the first hard frost and close the interior shutoff if you have one.
- Find your main shutoff. If a pipe bursts, the first job is stopping the water. Find the main valve now, before you need it.
- Open the cabinets under sinks on exterior walls. Warm air can then reach the pipes. It’s a small step that makes a real difference on the coldest nights.
During extreme cold: extra precautions
When the forecast drops below –20°C, insulation alone may not protect the most exposed pipes. A few more steps help:
- Let a trickle of water run overnight from any tap fed by a vulnerable pipe. Moving water is much harder to freeze.
- Keep the house at 15°C or warmer, even when you’re away. The extra heat costs far less than a burst pipe.
- If you’re leaving for a long stretch, consider shutting off the main supply and draining the lines.
If a pipe is already frozen
The signs are usually obvious: you turn on a tap and nothing comes out, or only a trickle. Don’t panic. A frozen pipe hasn’t necessarily burst.
- Find the frozen section. It’s usually in an exterior wall, under a sink or in a crawl space.
- Open the tap before you start thawing. This relieves pressure as the ice melts.
- Apply gentle heat. A hair dryer, heating pad or warm towels all work. Never use an open flame.
- Work from the tap end toward the frozen section, so water can escape as it thaws.
- Call a plumber if you can’t find the frozen section or it’s inside a wall.
After a burst pipe
A burst pipe is a multi-trade problem. The plumber stops the water and repairs the line. But the water that escaped has likely soaked drywall, insulation and maybe flooring. Depending on where the pipe was, the wiring may need an electrical inspection before the wall is closed. Then the drywall has to be replaced and finished, and the paint has to match.
This is exactly the kind of job CORE was built for. One call, one team, the full scope, from the plumbing repair to the finished wall. If you’re dealing with a burst pipe, or want to get ahead of the problem before winter, contact CORE Plumbing for an assessment.
