How to Prevent Frozen Pipes This Chicago Winter (and What to Do If They Freeze)
Serving Wheeling, Buffalo Grove, Palatine, Arlington Heights and the northwest suburbs
Every winter, when temperatures around Chicago drop into the single digits and below zero, plumbers get the same call: no water coming out of the faucet, or worse, water coming through the ceiling. Frozen pipes are one of the most common and most expensive winter problems for homeowners in our area. The good news is that most of them can be prevented with a few simple steps you can do yourself.
Why pipes burst when they freeze
Water expands when it turns to ice. Inside a pipe, that ice has nowhere to go, so pressure builds until the pipe cracks or splits. This happens to copper, PEX and PVC alike. Often the break isn't where the ice is, but in a nearby section where pressure builds up. That's why many people only find out about a burst pipe after it thaws and water starts pouring out.
Which pipes freeze first
- Outdoor hose bibs (spigots) and sprinkler lines
- Pipes in unheated spaces: crawl spaces, garages, attics and parts of the basement
- Pipes running along exterior walls with little or no insulation
- The main water line where it comes into the house through the foundation
- Kitchen and bathroom sink pipes inside cabinets on outside walls
8 ways to prevent frozen pipes
- Keep your heat steady. Don't turn the thermostat way down at night or when you leave for a trip. A slightly higher heating bill costs far less than a burst pipe repair.
- Let warm air reach the pipes. Open the cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks on cold nights, and keep warm air moving in basements, crawl spaces and garages where pipes run.
- Run a trickle of cold water. The City of Chicago Department of Water Management recommends a small trickle on each floor at the faucets farthest from where the water line enters the house. Moving water is much harder to freeze.
- Insulate exposed pipes. Foam pipe sleeves from any hardware store are cheap and easy to install, especially on pipes along outside walls and in unheated areas.
- Disconnect garden hoses. Remove hoses from outdoor spigots, shut the indoor valve that feeds them, open the outdoor spigot to drain it, and cover it with an insulated foam cap.
- Seal drafts. Close up gaps, cracks and broken windows near pipes, especially in the basement and around where pipes enter the house.
- Know where your main shut-off valve is. If a pipe bursts, shutting off the water in the first minutes can save your floors, walls and belongings. Find it now, before you need it.
- Going away? Plan ahead. Leave the heat on, ask someone to check the house during a cold snap, or shut off and drain the water if the house will be empty for a long time.
Signs a pipe is frozen
- Little or no water when you turn on a faucet
- Frost on a visible section of pipe
- Bulging or cracked pipe
- Strange sounds in the pipes, or water stains on walls or ceilings
What to do if a pipe freezes
- Keep the faucet open. As the ice melts, running water helps clear the rest of it.
- Warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer, an electric heating pad, or towels soaked in hot water. Start near the faucet and work back toward the frozen section.
- Never use an open flame. No torches, candles or propane heaters. Thawing pipes with fire is a common cause of winter house fires.
- Check the other faucets. If one pipe froze, others may have too.
- Look for leaks after it thaws. A pipe that froze can be weakened even if it didn't visibly burst.
When to call a plumber
Call a licensed plumber right away if:
- You can't find where the pipe is frozen, or you can't reach it
- The pipe won't thaw
- A pipe has burst or is leaking (shut off the main water valve first)
- Water is coming through a ceiling or wall
Redline Plumbing is available every day from 8 AM to 9 PM, with 24/7 emergency service for burst and frozen pipes across Wheeling, Buffalo Grove, Palatine, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Des Plaines, Glenview, Northbrook, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows and nearby suburbs. We're licensed and insured, and we speak English, Russian and Ukrainian.