Chicago, Illinois, is known for its harsh winters, with temperatures that often plummet to below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Low Windy City temperatures are no friends to water pipes. When basement temps dip below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, uninsulated pipes can freeze and burst.
Keeping basement temperatures above the freezing point is advised to protect the plumbing. The freezing point for water is 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the pipes reach this temperature, the water inside them transitions from liquid to solid—and it takes only a few hours to put the pipes at risk.
The minimum temperature to maintain in the basement during Chicago winters is 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature prevents the indoor, uninsulated water pipes from freezing in uninsulated spaces. So once temperatures start to drop outside, homeowners should protect their pipes.
What happens when pipes freeze?
Water expands when it freezes. Like a soda can bursts when kept in a freezer, water pipes can rupture when exposed to frigid air. Pressure builds when pipes freeze, putting the weakest point in the plumbing system at risk for bursting. Water damage in the basement is the result.
Certain pipes inside the home are more vulnerable to freezing than others such as uninsulated plumbing in the attic and crawl spaces. Basement water pipes are especially at risk when the space is unheated or poorly insulated. Pipes running along exterior basement walls are most susceptible to freezing.
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How do homeowners prevent pipes from freezing?
1. Insulate Pipes
Exposed water pipes are at a high risk for freezing when winter temperatures drop. Insulating the pipes that run through the basement is one of the best lines of defense against frozen pipes. Wrap the pipes with insulation sleeves, which can be obtained at affordable prices from hardware stores.
Heat tape is another defensive maneuver to protect the water pipes. Despite its name, heat tape is not an adhesive tape but a flattened electrical cable that plugs into a GFCI outlet. Wrap the unheated or exposed pipes in the heat tape, which activates automatically in low temps.
2. Seal Cracks
Seal cracks in the basement walls to prevent cold air from entering and freezing the pipes. Weather stripping is ideal to stop cold air from getting inside. Consider purchasing a few draft stoppers to place under any basement doors that lead to the outside.
3. Set the Thermostat
Prevent the pipes in the basement from freezing by setting the thermostat to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Ideally, the basement should remain between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit during both the day and night in the winter months—even when the pipes are insulated.
4. Open Cabinet Doors
Some basements are finished and may feature a bathroom. If the basement is fitted with a bathroom, open the cabinets under the sink to expose the water pipes to warm, circulating air. This is especially critical when the basement sink is located against an exterior wall.
5. Drip the Faucet
If a sink is installed in the basement, open the faucet at night when temperatures drop outside. Dripping a trickle of cold water allows water to continuously flow through the pipes, which prevents them from freezing. Consider catching the water in a bucket so it doesn’t go to waste.
How do homeowners thaw a frozen pipe?
When the faucet is turned on in the morning and only a few drops fall out, it’s a clear indication that a pipe has frozen. Exercise caution when thawing a frozen pipe. If the pipe has burst, the water can flood the home and cause extensive and costly water damage.
Turn on the faucet supplied to the frozen pipe so that water runs through it. This step relieves the built-up pressure as the ice melts. Running a steady stream of even cold water through the pipe helps to melt the block of ice inside the pipe.
Heating the frozen section of the pipe is also effective. Heat sources include an electrical heating pad, a hair dryer, or a portable space heater. If none of these items are available, consider wrapping the frozen pipe in a towel soaked in hot water.
Safety is critical when thawing a frozen pipe. Never use a blowtorch, propane heater, or tool with an open flame. Devices like these can not only start a fire but damage the pipes by directing intense heat toward them. The pipes may burst due to the rapid temperature change.
Continue applying heat to the pipes to thaw them and restore the water pressure. Run the other faucets in the home to determine if additional pipes have frozen (if one pipe is frozen, others are likely). Perform the abovementioned steps to thaw these frozen pipes, too.
Water Damage Restoration for Burst Pipes
Frozen pipes in the basement can cause serious damage if they burst. Depending on the severity of the rupture and size of the pipe, hundreds of gallons of water can pour out per hour. The basement becomes flooded with several inches of water in a short period of time.
Fortunately, when water damage occurs, ServiceMaster S&R Systems is available to return your flooded basement or any other part of the home to pre-loss conditions. We offer efficient water damage restoration services to not only residential homes but commercial properties, too.
Trained crews arrive at your home or business, assess the severity of damage, and begin the restoration process. Our specialists first locate the source of the water, whether it’s a burst pipe or malfunctioning appliance. Repairs are made to stop the water.
We extract standing water using cutting-edge extraction equipment. Powerful drying machinery is then installed to remove excess moisture. Our specialists provide structural repairs and clean affected materials. If necessary, we remove mold. Technicians are also available to assist with insurance claims.
Consult ServiceMaster S&R Systems for swift and thorough burst pipe cleaning services. We are proud to serve Aurora, Illinois, and the surrounding communities, 24 hours a day. Specialists stand by in winter and every season to respond to emergencies and provide reliable water damage cleanup. Contact ServiceMaster S&R today.
