Preventing Frozen Pipes

What’s worse than a major home maintenance disaster? How about several major home maintenance disasters at once? For the quarter-million families who have their homes ruined and their lives disrupted each winter because of frozen water pipes, frigid nights can very quickly turn to ongoing, inconvenient, extremely expensive ordeals.

In cold and warmer climates alike, pipes freeze for a combination of three central reasons: quick drops in temperature, poor insulation, and thermostats set too low. Both plastic and copper pipes can burst when they freeze, and recovering from frozen pipes is not as simple as calling a plumber. A 1/8-inch crack in a pipe can spew up to 250 gallons of water a day, causing flooding, serious structural damage, and the immediate potential for mold.

 In the United States, frozen pipes cause a huge amount of damage each year; unlike natural disasters, this disaster is largely preventable. By taking a few simple precautions, you can help save yourself the mess, money, and aggravation frozen pipes cause.

Your Best Bet: Don’t Let It Happen
There are a number of preventative steps you can take to keep your pipes from freezing. Here are a few simple tips:

Before The Cold
Remember the three central causes of frozen pipes? Quick drops in temperature, poor insulation, and thermostats set too low. You can prepare by protecting your home during the warmer months. Here’s how:
-Insulate pipes in your home's crawl spaces and attic, even if you live in a climate where freezing is uncommon. Exposed pipes are most susceptible to freezing. Remember: The more insulation you use, the better protected your pipes will be.
-Heat tape or thermostatically controlled heat cables can be used to wrap pipes. Be sure to use products approved by an independent testing organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories Inc., and only for the use intended (exterior or interior). Closely follow all manufacturers' installation and operation instructions.
-Seal leaks that allow cold air inside near where pipes are located. Look for air leaks around electrical wiring, dryer vents, and pipes, and use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out. With severe cold, even a tiny opening can let in enough cold air to cause a pipe to freeze.
-Before winter hits, disconnect garden hoses and, if possible, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance of freezing in the short span of pipe just inside the house.

When The Mercury Drops
Even if you’ve taken the right preventative steps, extreme weather conditions can still harm your pipes. Here are a few more steps you can take:

-A trickle of hot and cold water might be all it takes to keep your pipes from freezing. Let warm water drip overnight, preferably from a faucet on an outside wall.
-Keep your thermostat set at the same temperature during both day and night. You might be in the habit of turning down the heat when you’re asleep, but further drops in the temperature – more common overnight – could catch you off guard and freeze your pipes.
-Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to un-insulated pipes under sinks and appliances near exterior walls.

If the temperature drop and you think your pipes are in danger, call Milltown Plumbing, Heating and Air www.milltownplumbing.com/contact at (978) 453-5684 for an inspection and service.

Acid Waste Sink Pump Installation in Chelmsford

Below is a picture of an Acid waste sink pump that was installed by Milltown Plumbing & Heating in Chelmsford, MA:

www.milltownplumbing.com

Hot Water Tempering Valve Station Installed in Chelmsford

Below is a picture of a recent installation by Milltown Plumbing & Heating of a hot water tempering valve station in Chelmsford, MA:

Heating Circulator Pumps Installed in Billerica

Below is a picture of a recent installation completed by Milltown Plumbing.  Heating circulator pumps were installed in Billerica, MA:

Backflow Preventer Installed in Tewksbury

A backflow preventer is used to protect potable water supplies from contamination or pollution due to backflow.

In water supply systems, water is normally maintained at a significant pressure to enable water to flow from the tap, shower etc. When pressure fails or is reduced, as may happen if a water main bursts, pipes freeze or there is unexpectedly high demand on the water system, then such reduced pressure in the pipe may allow contaminated water from the ground, from storage or from other sources to be drawn up into the system.

Below is a picture of a recent backflow preventor installation in Tewksbury, MA by Milltown Plumbing & Heating:

High Efficiency Boiler Installation

Below is a new high efficiency boiler installation completed in Chelmsford by Milltown Plumbing & Heating:

www.milltownplumbing.com

Drain Cleaning Tips

Plumbing systems in every home develop clogs and there is no way to steer clear of this. Without proper knowledge, cleaning a drain in your home can be an aggravating experience. If your drains tend to get clogged, whether it's your sink, floor, or bathroom drain, there are simple steps you can take to rid yourself of these clogs without having to call in your local plumber. Read these tips to keep your drains free of clogs and keep draining water properly. 

Tip 1: First try using the typical home remedy, the plunger, with cleaning any clogged drain or toilet. An inexpensive tool, a majority of minor drain clogs can be cleared out with some instant plunger action. 

Tip 2: Pour a brine solution (or very strong salt water) down any sink to eliminate odors. It's good for kitchen sinks because it keeps grease from building up in the drains after cleaning dishes from dinner.  This is a great little trick for preventing clogged drains from happening in the first place, which can definitely save you money.

Tip 3: Go to your local store and purchase a drain cleaning solution for any clogs in your drains that you can't get out with a plunger. Be sure to read all the information on the solution as certain solutions are made for certain drains – some chemical drain cleaners can damage plastic pipes or garbage disposals installed in kitchen sinks. Follow all directions carefully to clean the drain properly. Keep in mind, however, that repeated use of chemical drain cleaner solutions can damage your plumbing over time.

Tip 4: Never underestimate the power of vinegar and baking soda, especially if you want to stay away from pouring chemical drain cleaners down a clogged drain to clean it. Inexpensive and safe for use, a little bit of vinegar and baking soda can keep your drains clear of any clog, and it also gets rid of the bad odor made by any sink clog. A half cup of baking soda poured into any drain followed by a half cup of vinegar and then some boiling hot water is the perfect natural drain cleaner. The two ingredients react with one another to can get rid of any blockage without doing permanent damage to your pipes.

Tip 5: Purchase or rent a mechanical snake to clean drains of unwanted clogs. Thread the mechanical snake down any clogged drain to manually push the clog out and clean your drain. You can use a mechanical snake with a garden hose to clean out any clogs from your home’s main drain to the sewer. Thread the mechanical snake into the pipe, take it out once the clog is pushed, and insert the garden hose with the water on full blast. 

Tip 6: If, after a few attempts, these tips have not helped you to clear your drain of clogs, call a licensed, professional plumber to come and take over. Excess force on any drain can lead to permanent damage to your pipes and fixtures.