As temperatures drop, Chicagoland homeowners need to keep an eye on their pipes.
Freezing pipes can lead to busted pipes in the areas of your home most susceptible to freezing (attic, basement, crawlspace, and exterior walls). This is due to poor insulation, which allows colder air to affect your plumbing more.
To avoid water damage and inevitable mold contamination to your home, here are some ways you can help keep your attic protected this winter.
Protecting Your Pipes in the Winter is Extremely Important for Chicagoland Homeowners
Chicagoland’s older housing stock, particularly homes built before modern insulation standards were common, often has attic spaces that were never designed with today’s weather in mind.
Because of the older pipe materials, there is a higher likelihood of freezing than in homes with newer pipes.
Water supply lines are routinely routed through attic spaces, particularly in homes built on a slab, where water can supercool several degrees below freezing before ice forms.
In research tests at the University of Illinois, water pipes placed in an unheated, insulated attic consistently began forming ice when the outdoor temperature dipped just below 20°F.
When water freezes in your pipes, its volume expands, putting pressure on the pipe from the inside. This can cause a pipe to burst.
But even a small crack or two can be the start of some devastating and expensive water and plumbing damage to living spaces.
And cracks don’t have to be massively large to cause a fair amount of damage.
A ¼-inch split in a water line caused by freezing can potentially unleash 600 gallons of water per hour when the pipe thaws.
This torrent will quickly permeate through openings in the ceiling and soak the rooms below. Water will also cascade into wall cavities, flooding deep within the structure.
This causes thousands of dollars in damage, which is why homeowners should take a proactive approach to preventing it.
Those low 20º temperatures tend to start in late November and sometimes last all the way through February, making it even more important to take the time to limit the risk of freezing and burst pipes while the weather is still warm.
Signs Your Attic Pipes May Already Be at Risk
Before prevention, it’s important to understand the circumstances under which your attic pipes might already be at risk.
There are also banging, knocking, and clicking sounds from the pipes contracting in extreme cold. If you’re hearing any of these sounds near attic access points or upper-floor walls, it might be time to call a professional.
For exposed pipes, any visible frost indicates that a section of piping isn’t receiving enough warm air or insulation.
The one sign that’s most pressing is when you suddenly have no water flow from a fixture in your home. If this happens, the pipe might already be frozen, and the risk of a crack or burst increases the longer it stays that way.
Protect Your Attic from Winter Damage
In the fall, it’s always a good idea to take some time to protect your attic pipes from winter damage. Here are a few ways you can do that at home.
Insulate Exposed Pipes
Placing a layer of insulation, specifically designed for this purpose, around the exposed pipes in your attic protects them from freezing temperatures.
Wherever water supply lines pass through the attic, foam pipe insulation sleeves should be installed on all exposed spans. The more insulation you use, the better.
Pipe insulation is inexpensive, readily available, and easy to install.
Simply laying batts of existing fiberglass insulation over the pipes or burying the pipes in loose-fill cellulose insulation is not sufficient.
Also, make sure all sections of the pipe are insulated by covering rounded elbows, T-joints, and other irregular spans.
Use Heat Tape or Heat Cables with a Thermostat Control on Problem Pipes
If you have a span of pipe that is particularly vulnerable to low temperatures, electric heating tape or heat cables act like an electric blanket for it.
Controlled by a thermostat that activates only when the attic temperature drops significantly, the tape typically consumes about 5 watts per foot.
Therefore, a 30-foot section of pipe would use only about 30 watts when activated in cold temperatures.
Please note that, due to potential hazards, a professional plumber or electrician must install pipe heat tape and cables.
Consider PEX Pipe
PEX is flexible cross-linked polyethylene now commonly installed as household water supply lines instead of copper.
PEX has a chemical structure that allows it to withstand pressure increases and perform better in winter.
Though PEX is not entirely resistant to damage from extremely frigid temperatures, its flexibility makes it more freeze-tolerant and less likely to rupture than traditional piping during normal winter weather.
Open Interior Attic Access Points
Letting warmer air from your home’s living areas flow into the colder attic will help prevent pipes from freezing.
Operate an Attic Fan and Leave Vents Open
There is a common misconception that attic fan ventilation is only necessary during the hotter summer months, but this is not the case.
Your attic fan’s ventilation can help prevent ice dams, reduce moisture, and prevent mold and mildew. Further, do not cover roof vents; this helps during the cold months.
Roof ventilation helps keep temperatures consistent, and closing vents creates conditions that make the attic warm and conducive to mold and pests.
Taking proactive steps to prevent leaks from frozen attic pipes is essential for safeguarding your home against harsh winter conditions.
By taking preventive measures and scheduling regular inspections with a professional plumber, you can significantly reduce the risk of water damage from frozen pipes in your attic.
We Help Homeowners Just Like You
Flader Plumbing and Heating has the experience and expertise to find the solution that best fits your home and family’s needs. We’ve been serving your neighbors and our Chicagoland community for over 100 years and 4 generations.
Only Flader Plumbing and Heating delivers:
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Our professional technicians arrive on time, listen to your concerns, and answer your questions. They will recommend the right solution and deliver as promised. Flader technicians have an average of 15 years of experience and are EPA-certified.
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