Preventing frozen pipes – handy tips to get you through to spring

The best way to deal with frozen pipes is to avoid them altogether. That might sound easier said than done, but there are some simple ways to avoid damage from freezing.

Starting with the easiest, here are some preventative tips courtesy of Kevin Ukkonen from Bee’s Knees Plumbing, Heating and Electrical.

• Disconnect your garden hose from your outdoor faucet.
  Kevin explained why this simple step is so important. “They’re designed to shut the water off about 12 inches inside the home. …if you leave the hose on, especially if it’s shut off, that water won’t have an opportunity to drain out.” Freezing and expanding can cause cracking that can potentially flood your house.
• During a cold snap, if you’re just away for the day or if your furnace shuts down, it can help to leave a faucet on a bit. “If you turn your water on to at least a trickle, the water will be less likely to freeze because it’s moving.” He cautioned not to just turn your water on and not pay attention to it, but “When it gets really cold, that’s a good emergency measure.”
• If you’re going away for longer, the cheapest solution is to have someone check on your house daily. Kevin suggested “Make sure they actually walk into the utility room and check things, look at the furnace, the water heater and where the water comes in.”
• Don’t set your temperature lower than 15°C, especially if the weather might get to minus 20. Kevin explains that it might be 10° upstairs, but maybe downstairs it’s a few degrees cooler, and in a back corner where pipes might be, the temperature could get a lot closer to zero.

Having someone come by isn’t always an option, and some people go away for extended periods of time. Technology can let you keep tabs on things while you’re not home. Kevin told us about some of the devices Bee’s Kneez electricians can install.

• Smart thermostat. “If you’re going to travel a lot, you can actually check the temperature of your house while you’re gone.” A Smart thermostat let you control the temperature in your home even while you’re away. “That’s a nice peace of mind.“
• Smart water shut-off valve. A Smart valve will alert you if there’s water running. You can shut the water off from your phone or anywhere you have internet connection.

Hopefully you never have to deal with frozen or burst pipes. The professional advice if you do? “If you’re not sure what to do, the best thing is to turn your water off, and call a plumber.” said Kevin. “We’ve got heat guns to get you out of the emergency, or we can fix the broken pipe.”

For emergency or routine calls, Bee’s Knees never charges call-out or dispatch fees. Visit beeskneesplumbingandheating.ca.

Bonus tip: 2023 is the last year some Fortis rebates will be available. Call Bee’s Knees for info on how to not miss out on them.