Temperatures can drop to dangerously low levels during winter in Saskatoon. This can put the pipes and plumbing in your home at risk of freezing. When water freezes, it expands inside your pipes. It causes pressure to build up between the ice blockage and your closed faucet. Over time, this pressure cause your pipes to burst.
Preventing Pipes From Freezing
Stop your pipes from freezing! Your pipes may freeze for a number of reasons. They may be poorly insulated, exposed to icy drafts, or located inside cupboards where they are isolated from the warm air inside your home. To ensure water is able to flow freely throughout your pipes in winter, consider these simple preventive measures.
Insulate Your Pipes
Insulate your pipes by wrapping them with a foam material that keeps the heat in. You can buy this from most hardware stores in Saskatoon.
Keep Your Home Warm
Set your heating system so that it will heat your home to a level that will keep you comfortable and stop your pipes from freezing. Use spray foam for any cracks in the home that can let cold air at your plumbing pipes. As an added protection, leave any sink cupboard doors open on cold days, to let the heat circulate.
Check Your Pipes Regularly
Check your pipes regularly for signs of damage. If you notice any damage, get them repaired or replaced immediately. If you are going away for a while, ask a relative or friend to check your home regularly to ensure your pipes have not frozen or burst. It is also a good idea to shut your water off at the main valve if you will be leaving the home for an extended period.
Locate Your Main Shut-off Valve
Make sure you know where your Main Shut-off Valve is and check that you can turn it on and off easily. Once you have located the Main Shut-off Valve, label it so you can identify it quickly in an emergency.
You probably do not give much consideration to your plumbing in Saskatoon, but if it goes wrong then it will be at the forefront of your mind. In the event your pipes do freeze and burst in winter, contact an experienced Saskatoon plumber for help and advice.
Sources:
Q&A: Coping With Frozen Pipes, BBC News