Air drafts, poor insulation could damage pipes
HOUGHTON -- Flooded basements, cracked pipes, no warm water in the shower--they're all damage that can happen when pipes freeze in the house. And this week's U.P. weather has created an environment for that to happen. Manderfield Inc. got one call this morning.
"A majority of our calls are people who notice that the water pressure is absent from their house," said Manderfield dispatcher, Eric Sauvola. "They're not getting any hot water or cold water to a certain fixture."
Chris Clark, a plumber at Manderfield Inc., says drafty, leaky foundations are the biggest culprit behind pipes freezing up. He points to openings where the outside can be viewed from inside. Fixing those air leaks is one way to prevent pipe damage.
"You can buy some heat tape," said Clark. "Tape your pipes. In leaky foundations use spray foam to kind of keep air leaks from coming through."
Full basements tend not to freeze as often because they're below the frost level. If you have a crawl space, Manderfield employees recommend checking for drafts.
"Any pipes going through blocks, block walls, or any part of the foundation should be sealed up to avoid any kind of air leaks," Clark said.
Other ways to help your pipes...pile snow against the house, which acts like insulation, and let faucets run as thin as pencil lead to keep water moving.
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