8 Quick Ways to Stop Pipes Freezing in Your Crawl Space
During the brutal winter season, many residents of the Virginia area find out that the true victims of the sub-zero temperatures are the interior pipes in their homes. Winter can come down hard on them and render them useless or ineffectual. So it’s important to prepare the piping in your home for the intense weather. Wondering how to do this?
Let’s look at simple but practical ways to stop pipes from freezing outdoors and in your crawl space and keep your taps flowing.
How to Prevent Pipes Freezing
1. Insulate Water Pipes in Exposed Areas
Start by insulating the pipes in the unconditioned crawl space that is the area under your home, then the ones in the exterior walls and unheated attic. These pipes are prone to freezing because they come into contact with outdoor air. Insulating pipes using pipe wraps lowers the risk of freezing and sudden bursts from excess pressure.
2. Install Foam Pipe Sleeves
If you have longer runs of pipes that need insulation, it’s advisable to cover them using foam pipe sleeves. Typical sleeves are made of rubber or foam and can be as long as six feet. That’s more than enough to cover a long pipe. When buying, make sure that your contractor gets the right size for your pipes.
3. Seal Crawl Space
An unconditioned crawl space is an open invitation for winter air to freeze your pipes. Covering the crawl space can reduce the volume of cold air that surrounds your water pipes. A common method of sealing is using foam pieces that cover both walls and floors and then securing them with fasteners and tape. Not sure what steps to take to seal your crawl space? Request a free crawl space inspection today!
4. Use Heating Tape
If your piping system is within reach, it’s also advisable that you wrap the water pipes with electrical heating tape to maintain the heat. Self-monitoring tapes with a sensor that turns on and off depending on the heating needs of the pipe is a good option. You can also use the manual tape, which will require you to plug and unplug it.
Caution: Never install an electrical heating tap on your own. Let a professional handle it to minimize safety hazards.
5. Insulate Pipe Gaps
As you insulate your water pipes, don’t forget the pipe gaps. It’s important that you seal all air gaps, especially where pipes go through the exterior wall. The reason is that a significant amount of heat is lost in such gaps. Sealing these gaps with foam caulk rope and expanding foam not only waterproofs them but keeps your pipes flowing in winter.
6. Consistent Thermostat Settings
One of the simplest ways to stop freezing is to set the thermostat at the same temperature 24/7. Many homeowners lower the thermostat during evenings to reduce their heating costs, but that’s not a good strategy. Having a low temperature set overnight when the temperature outside is also likely to drop can lead to bursting pipes, outweighing the slight savings on utility bills. By ensuring steady temperatures during and night, you will prevent ice from forming on your pipes.
7. Insulate Your Crawl Space
Covering your crawl space and exposed pipes is a step in the right direction, but not enough. Inspect your Virginia home for openings, cracks or holes that could bring in a draft and freeze your pipes. Pay attention to the area around the windows and door frames. Don’t forget to check cable holes like the ones for internet or television in the walls. If there are openings around sill plates, make sure you seal them. We strongly advise you to apply caulking on cracks around pipes on your walls (interior and exterior). This traps warm air and stops blockage from frozen water.
8. Leave the Heat On When Traveling
If you’re planning to travel during the winter, ensure your heat is on while you’re out of town. Leaving the heat on in an empty house isn’t a futile thing. It’s going to stop temperatures from dropping and cause your water pipes to freeze and burst. Try to maintain internal temperatures of 55°F or more, as this will ensure your pipes keep flowing.
Additional tips:
- Disconnect the water supply to faucets or plumbing systems on the outside.
- Ensure your residential garage door is closed 24/7 to protect water pipes from cold winter air.
- Make sure your garage doors are closed at all times to protect the pipes located there from the cold.
- Keep bathroom and kitchen cabinets open so warm air can circulate around the home. This will help prevent pipes from freezing because of cold snaps.
- Leave pipes that are prone to freezing dripping a bit. Water movement, even at the pace of a drip, prevents ice from forming in the pipes.
Want to avoid frozen pipe issues during cold winter months in Virginia? Request a free inspection of your home and crawl space today.
Protect Your Home This Winter with JES
Bracing for the winter months in Virginia means ensuring your home is ready to handle the cold, especially when it comes to preventing your interior water pipes from freezing.
Don’t let the winter weather catch you off guard. Schedule a free inspection with JES Foundation Repair today to learn more about protecting your pipes from freezing. Our experts are ready to provide you with tailored solutions to keep your home’s water flowing smoothly, regardless of the temperature outside.
Crawl Space FAQs
Our process involves removing standing water and installing CrawlDrain™ for ongoing drainage, complemented by drainage matting, encapsulation, insulation, and dehumidification. Contact us for more details and a free inspection.
The duration of the project varies based on the crawl space size, the extent of existing damage, and the specific solutions implemented. Most encapsulation projects take between one and three days to complete, including moisture control, insulation, and sealing. JES Foundation Repair teams work efficiently to ensure your crawl space is fully protected on schedule. Contact us for more information and to schedule a free inspection.
Sudden increases in utility costs without changes in usage, cold floors, high indoor humidity, and musty odors may signal crawl space problems. JES Foundation Repair determines the root of the issue and proposes customized repair solutions during a free inspection.
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