As the mercury drops and winter’s chill settles in, homeowners face a common and potentially costly concern: frozen water pipes.
While many are diligent about insulating their indoor plumbing, it’s easy to overlook the water pipes running through the garage.
These often-unprotected pipes are vulnerable to freezing, leading to the inconvenience of disrupted water supply and the potential for costly repairs.
If you have pipes running along the garage walls, consider insulating these pipes and securing them with pipe hangers to prevent contact with cold surfaces.
Once the temperature reaches 20 degrees or below, the water pipes will start to freeze. But they would have needed six consecutive hours of exposure to those temperatures in order to freeze.
There is a risk of freezing water in pipes when they are not properly insulated, or when they are not in use, and they do not have access to a heat source.
You are more likely to end up with a burst pipe if you let your pipes freeze for a long period of time.
What Causes Frozen Water Lines To Burst?
Water expands when it freezes. Water pressure upstream from the blockage increases due to this expansion, putting pressure on your pipes.
Ice blockages often cause pipes to burst far from where the blockage actually occurred because of increased pressure. This leads to complex plumbing repairs when a pipe freezes.
Garage Winterization 101: Tips to Avoid Freezing in Water Pipes
Keeping water pipes from freezing in your garage during cold winter months is essential to prevent potential damage and ensure a continuous water supply. Here are several effective methods and tips to help protect your garage’s water pipes:
1. Keep Your Garage Door Closed
If your garage door leads to your water supply lines, you can prevent your pipes from freezing by keeping it closed.
It is common for garages to feature high amounts of smooth concrete, which maintains a very cold environment. Any water pipes exposed to freezing temperatures can be damaged by an accidentally left open garage door.
2. Insulate Your Pipes and Your Water Tanks
Make sure to insulate your water tanks, particularly in colder areas of your home, and wrap your pipes in the colder areas with insulation covers. To reduce the chances of freezing, use foam rubber or fiberglass sleeves.
It may be possible to keep pipes closer to the temperature of the water inside them by insulating them. When exposed to prolonged freezing temperatures, it will not prevent freezing as it does not add any extra heat to the pipe.
3. Drafts
Keep drafts out of your house so that cold air cannot enter where your pipes are located. Ensure that there are no drafts around electrical wiring, dryer vents, and pipes.
Keeping your home more insulated and preventing drafts can be accomplished with a variety of materials. A pipe can freeze if even the tiniest of openings let in enough cold air during severe cold weather.
4. Heat Tape
During cold weather there is a product called heat tape which is installed on your pipes and will heat them up if necessary.
5. Drain Your Water System
In the event that you are going to be away for a while, you can simply drain your water system.
6. Run Your Taps
When the taps are running, water is harder to freeze, so if you run the faucets frequently, it will make your pipes less likely to freeze.
If you want, you can simply let your faucet trickle to keep the water flowing through the pipes. Keeping an eye on your water usage is important if you’re on a meter, as it can add extra charges to your water bill.
7. Fiberglass Batt Insulation
Previously, I have encountered frozen pipes that “need” to be insulated on the cold side, but not the warm side.
In my opinion, it is preferable to not insulate the pipes at all, but instead insulate the walls with fiberglass batt insulation, keeping the pipes on the warmest side.
There have been times when I’ve tried foam insulation on the pipes, but they tend to freeze more quickly that way.
It may be a good idea to run that pipe in PEX. Pipes made out of PEX tend to be very forgiving if they freeze and don’t split like those made out of other materials.
In most cases, PEX tubing contains a certain amount of stretch, unless AL-PEX tubing is used.
8. Add Garage Door Insulation
Garage doors are often a significant source of heat loss. Consider installing an insulation kit for your garage door or using weatherstripping to seal gaps around the door.
9. Space Heaters
In extremely cold climates, you can use a space heater in the garage to maintain a minimum temperature. Ensure the heater is safe and does not pose a fire hazard.
10. Leave Cabinet Doors Open
If your garage has cabinets with plumbing inside, leave the cabinet doors open to allow warmer air to circulate around the pipes.
11. Drip Faucets
On exceptionally cold nights, allow a small amount of water to drip from your faucets. The movement of water can help prevent freezing.
12. Disconnect Hoses
Disconnect any garden hoses from outdoor faucets and drain them. Shut off and drain the outdoor faucet to prevent freezing from reaching indoor pipes.
13. Install a Garage Heater
Consider investing in a dedicated garage heater that can maintain a consistent temperature during the winter. This option is especially useful if you use your garage frequently.
14. Monitor Temperature
Use a temperature-monitoring device or smart thermostat in the garage to keep track of temperature fluctuations. This will alert you to potential freezing conditions.
How to Deal with Frozen Pipes?
There is no way to prevent pipes from freezing in frigid climates no matter how much precaution you take.
It’s important to know how to respond. Frozen pipes cause no water to flow from faucets when you turn them on. It is not advisable to try to thaw the pipes yourself if this occurs.
Due to the fact that most plumbing pipes are invisible, you may not be able to pinpoint where the ice is located.
Rather than trying to fix frozen pipes on your own, contact a professional. A frozen pipe should never be thawed with an open flame.
A frozen pipe that bursts can cause considerable damage to your home. Minimize the damage by acting quickly.
It is likely that you will hear a burst pipe as it tends to be noticeable. In this situation, you should turn off the water supply immediately to avoid flooding. Repair the broken pipe by contacting a professional.
Final Words
If your garage plumbing is frequently at risk of freezing, consult a professional plumber. They can assess your situation and suggest more advanced solutions like rerouting pipes or adding a heat source directly to the plumbing.
Remember that prevention is key when it comes to avoiding frozen water pipes in your garage.
By taking these steps and staying proactive, you can protect your plumbing system and avoid the inconvenience and expense of dealing with frozen pipes.
