3 Ways to Prevent a Burst Pipe

With the winter months approaching, now is the time for pipe inspection and maintenance to prevent freezing and bursting. This situation occurs when water has frozen inside the pipe and then expanded upon thawing, causing the pipe to break. Three very easy ways we can stop this from happening are outlined below.

San Mateo, CA PlumbingImprove Your Insulation

Exterior piping is the most vulnerable to freezing because it is always exposed to the outside air. While a homeowner can purchase pipe insulation at a hardware store, we do not recommend this because there are different types, and it can be difficult to know which one is right.

Our company uses a high-quality insulation that provides both warmth and dryness, which is crucial to preventing burst pipes. It should be noted that towels must not be used to insulate a pipe as they can get wet and freeze and still cause damage.

Backflow Prevention

A back-flow is another area that contributes to freezing problems, which can cause it to crack. This leads to a lack of water in the house and a large amount of stress for any San Mateo homeowner. We provide special bags that fit over the backflow to prevent it from freezing and will do preventative maintenance all year round to keep it working the way it should.

Water Movement

It may sound elementary, but water that is moving is not able to freeze as easily. In very cold weather, leaving faucets and hose bibs on a tiny drip can be enough to prevent disastrous bursting that can flood the entire house. Before winter starts, we recommend a complete inspection of all pipes to ensure there are no weaknesses or other problems that need to be addressed. Ongoing plumbing issues tend to worsen at the change of the seasons, making it better to be safe than sorry.

The three tips listed above will keep the water flowing no matter how cold it gets outside. If you would like to have your pipes inspected prior to the winter months, please give us a call to set up a convenient appointment for plumbing in the San Mateo area.

Avoid a costly pipe burst with these key tips! Call James Caccia Plumbing Inc at (650) 442-1470 for repairs in your San Mateo, CA home.