Plumbing
Littleton CO
Living in Littleton, Colorado, means enjoying beautiful changing seasons, but it also means dealing with extreme, unpredictable winter weather. When the temperature suddenly plummets below freezing—often dropping into the single digits or negatives overnight—your home’s plumbing system is put to the ultimate test.
One of the most destructive and expensive plumbing disasters a homeowner can face is a burst pipe caused by freezing water. At Plumbing Littleton CO, our phones ring off the hook every time a deep freeze hits the Front Range. While we are always ready to provide rapid Emergency Plumbing repairs, we would much rather help you prevent the disaster entirely. In this comprehensive guide, we will explain exactly why pipes burst, how to protect your home before the cold hits, and what to do if the worst happens.
Many homeowners assume that a pipe bursts simply because ice expands outward and shatters the copper or PVC. While water does expand by about 9% when it freezes, that expansion isn't actually what causes the pipe to rupture.
When a section of water freezes inside a pipe, it creates a solid ice blockage. As the ice continues to expand, it acts like a piston, pushing the remaining liquid water toward the closed faucet. Because water is incompressible, this creates an immense, trapped pressure spike inside the pipe between the ice block and the faucet. It is this extreme hydraulic pressure that eventually causes the pipe walls to fail and burst open. This is why a pipe often bursts far away from the actual location of the ice blockage.
The best way to deal with frozen pipes is to stop them from freezing in the first place. Before the first major Colorado snowstorm hits, you must winterize your home's exterior plumbing.
This is the single most common mistake Littleton homeowners make. If you leave a garden hose attached to an outdoor spigot (hose bibb) during a freeze, the water inside the hose will freeze solid and back up into the spigot. Even if you have a "frost-proof" spigot, the trapped ice will destroy the internal valve, causing a massive flood inside your walls the next time you turn the water on in the spring. Always disconnect, drain, and store your hoses before winter.
Your underground irrigation system is highly vulnerable to freezing. You must have your sprinkler system professionally "blown out" with an air compressor every fall. This completely removes all sitting water from the underground lines and the backflow preventer.
Take a walk through your unheated spaces: the garage, the crawlspace, the attic, and unfinished utility rooms. Any exposed water supply lines in these areas are at high risk of freezing. Purchase inexpensive foam pipe insulation sleeves from a local hardware store and wrap them securely around these exposed pipes. For extremely vulnerable pipes, consider installing UL-listed thermostatic heat tape that automatically warms the pipe when the temperature drops.
When the local meteorologist warns of an impending "bomb cyclone" or a deep Arctic plunge, you need to take active measures inside your home to protect your plumbing.
Remember the science of why pipes burst? It’s the trapped hydraulic pressure. By allowing a faucet to drip very slowly (about one drip per second), you relieve that pressure. Even if the pipe does freeze and form an ice blockage, the open faucet provides an escape route for the pressure, preventing the pipe from rupturing. You should drip both hot and cold water from faucets located on exterior walls.
The pipes located under your kitchen and bathroom sinks are usually positioned against uninsulated exterior walls. When the temperature drops, open the cabinet doors beneath these sinks. This allows the warm ambient air from your home's heating system to circulate around the pipes and keep them above freezing.
Do not turn your thermostat way down at night to save a few pennies on heating during a deep freeze. Keep your thermostat set to a consistent temperature day and night. The slight increase in your heating bill is vastly cheaper than paying for a catastrophic Pipe Repair and extensive drywall replacement. If you are leaving town for a winter vacation, never set your thermostat lower than 55°F.
Despite your best efforts, you may wake up on a frigid morning, turn on the sink, and find that nothing comes out. Don't panic, but act quickly.
If a pipe has already burst and water is flooding your home, you must act instantly:
Don't let Colorado's brutal winters destroy your home. By taking proactive steps and knowing exactly how to respond, you can keep your plumbing safe all winter long. For professional winterization, pipe insulation, or emergency repairs, browse our Plumbing Services and contact our team today!