How to prevent frozen pipes

Canadians are used to it, but it doesn’t make winter’s cold weather any more bearable. Winter can be a lot of fun, though! You can go skiing, snowshoeing or tobogganing. If you don’t love the cold, you can sit down for a movie marathon with a piping cup of hot chocolate. Treat it as a much-deserved reward after an hour of snow shovelling!

However, when winter rolls around, you should be aware of what it can do to your home. Cold weather can lead to frozen pipes. When a pipe freezes, it can burst. Burst pipes are a common type of insurance claim. However, frozen pipes are easy to prevent. Read on to learn more about the causes of frozen pipes and how to prevent them.

What causes frozen pipes during the winter?

Frozen pipes are caused by extremely cold weather. The exact temperature that freezes pipes will vary depending on how insulated the pipes in your home are. Pipes that run along exterior walls have little to no insulation and are, therefore, more likely to freeze. Frozen pipes often occur in unheated areas such as basements, attics, crawl spaces, or garages.

Why worry about frozen pipes in your home?

You probably learned in school that when water freezes, it expands. This puts pressure on your pipes. When the pipes can’t withstand the pressure, they crack or burst, which means water can spill out and cause water damage. If this happens, you should be worried because if left untreated, it can lead to costly water damage.

Tips to prevent frozen pipes in your home

Burst pipes can cause a decent amount of damage and can cost a lot of money to repair. Luckily, there are some easy ways to prevent pipes from freezing. Here are our tips:

• Cover all faucets outside the house.
• Drain, remove and store any outdoor hoses and store them inside during the winter months.
• Consider insulating colder areas of your home, such as the attic and basement, since pipes are more prone to freezing there.
• If you have a pool, drain it in the winter. Also, drain the water from the sprinkler supply lines.
• Open your kitchen and bathroom cabinets open to allow warm air to circulate around your plumbing system.
• The temperature in your home should never go below 12 degrees Celsius. It doesn’t matter if it’s nighttime or if you leave your home for a vacation. Paying a bit more for your heating bill is more affordable than paying for water damage later.
• During extreme temperature drops, begin running your taps to keep the water moving. Even a trickle can be the difference between running water and a frozen pipe.
• Insulate the pipes closest to the exterior walls of your house. You can do this using snap on foam insulation or heat tape. You can learn more by reading our winter home insulation tips.

There are many measures you can take to prevent frozen pipes. By being aware of them, you can save money that you would have to spend on repairs or deductibles if you have to make an insurance claim.

How do you know if you have a frozen pipe in winter?

It might seem like we’re stating the obvious, but if you turn on the faucet and nothing or just a trickle comes out, frozen pipes may be the culprit. Ensure the water is on and check for leaks before making this conclusion. If you don’t notice any anomalies and it’s exceptionally cold outside, you probably have frozen pipes.

There’s always a way to make sure—that is, visual confirmation. If your pipes are visibly covered in frost, the water inside is likely frozen. You can avoid the inconvenience of frozen pipes by following our prevention tips. Speak with a BrokerLink insurance advisor to know if frozen pipes are covered under home insurance.

What should you do if you have frozen pipes?

If you find out you have a frozen pipe, there’s no need to panic. Here are the steps you should take to thaw frozen pipes:

1. Turn off the water to prevent flooding and water damage once you thaw frozen pipes.
2. Turn on the faucet supplied by the frozen pipes. It will reduce the pressure and let the thawed ice run out of the pipes.
3. Turn up the heat to see if the pipe will thaw.
4. If you have access to the pipe, try wrapping an electric heating pad around it. Other alternatives include using a hair dryer, space heater or towels soaked in hot water. Never use any type of open flame device. This can further damage your pipes and is very dangerous.
5. Keep applying heat until the water pressure returns to normal.
6. Check the other faucets in your home to see if any other water pipes are frozen. If you have one frozen pipe, there may be others.
7. If you can’t access the pipe because it’s behind a wall or inaccessible for some other reason, or if the steps above don’t work, call a licensed plumber. A plumber will have the specialized tools required to make your water pipes work again.

Staying warm in the winter

When the temperatures drop, your pipes are more prone to freezing. However, there are ways to keep your home warm in the winter. This will keep your water supply lines flowing. Here’s what you need to know about keeping your home warm in the winter. Follow these and review our winter home checklist and you’ll be prepared for anything, including if the power goes out during winter:

Seal windows and doors

See if there are any extra spaces around your windows and doors. If there are gaps, they could be letting in cold air. Weather-stripping or sealant or effective ways to fill them in and if you need help, you can reach out to an HVAC technician in your area.

Upgrade your windows

Naturally, you keep your windows closed in the winter, but what if it feels like they are open when they’re not? Maybe you notice mould on your window frame. Unfortunately, weather-stripping and sealant can’t resolve this issue. When this happens, you have to replace your windows.

Switch out or clean your furnace filter

Do you remember the last time you changed your furnace filter? If you don’t, it’s likely time to change it out. A clean filter will improve air flow and allow warm air to make its way out of the vents and into your home. If you aren’t sure when to change your filter, your owner’s manual will have the answer.

Use your thermostat to your advantage

When you’re sitting at home, you shouldn’t feel too hot or too cold. That’s where your thermostat can help you out. It should be set to at least 20 degrees Celsius while you’re awake and 17 degrees Celsius when you’re sleeping.

Turn on your ceiling fan

Turning your fan on in the winter might sound counterintuitive. Despite this, many people don’t know that fans can also help circulate warm air. Many have a reverse setting that causes the blades to spin counter-clockwise. This pushes the warm air from your heating system down and makes rooms feel warmer.

Can space heaters help prevent frozen pipes?

If you need to add additional heat to a room, consider using a space heater. You shouldn’t use one in the bathroom. However, if you have to as a last resort, be sure to connect it to a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) and never use an extension cord.

Some rooms naturally don’t get as much heat as others. That’s why you should try to use a space heater if you know pipes located in a certain room are vulnerable.

How do you stop frozen pipes from causing damage in the future?

Sometimes, it’s too late to prevent pipes from freezing. Despite this, once they do freeze, there are ways to stop them from wreaking havoc on your plumbing system. Here’s what you should do to avoid having this issue again in the future:

Move exposed pipes

Exposed pipes are the most vulnerable to freezing. If possible, ask a licensed plumber to move these pipes. This will allow warmer air to access the pipes and allow the water supply lines to do their work in the coldest weather.

Insulate pipes

Some areas of the house are more vulnerable to frozen pipes than others. Consider insulating water pipes in unheated areas of your home, such as the basement, garage, and attic. It can reduce the chances of heat loss, stop water from freezing, and cut your heat bill at the same time.

It’s important to make an effort to prevent your pipes from freezing. Neglecting your pipes can cause you to have trouble with your water damage. You might even end up with a flooded basement. Before this happens, you should check out our guide to home flooding prevention. This can help when the cold weather causes water to come out of a burst pipe.

Home insurance coverage for frozen pipes in winter

Everyone’s home insurance policy is different. Some cover water damage while others don’t, but when they do, it may only be certain types of water damage. Some policies cover frozen pipe damages while others don’t.If you live in an extra cold part of Canada, speak with your insurance broker to understand the coverage you have.

Remember that if you leave your home unattended for an extended period of time (usually a month or more), your home insurance likely won’t cover any damages that occur when you’re gone unless you have someone to check on your home at least once every 72 hours.

Contact BrokerLink today

We hope our guide helped you prevent your pipes from freezing. If not, there are ways to thaw frozen pipes and let water run freely again. By following a few steps, your pipes will no longer be frozen. If you can’t make interventions on your own, a licensed plumber can help, and the costs will likely be covered by your home insurance policy.

At BrokerLink, we have extensive expertise in home insurance. We can help you get the coverage you need at an affordable price. Our team recommends bundling home and auto insurance to save money on your premium. We offer all of the following types of home insurance coverage and more:

• Condo insurance
• High-value home insurance
• Vacation property and cottage insurance
• Tenant and renters insurance

You can get an online quote in just a few minutes. Once you do, we can call you back at your convenience. You can also visit one of our community branches across Canada.

1-866-724-2372

Preventing frozen pipes FAQs

Is it possible to unfreeze a frozen pipe?

Yes, you can thaw a frozen pipe. There are a few things you can try. You can turn the heat up in your home, use a hair dryer, put a space heater near the frozen pipe, or wrap the frozen pipe in an electric heating pad or towel soaked in hot water.

Should I inform the local authorities if I plan to vacation away from my home during the winter?

Yes! If you are leaving your home vacant at any time of year, ask a trusted neighbour or friend to keep an eye on the house. This is especially true during the winter when pipes freeze and can cause a significant amount of damage. If you are away from your home for a month or more, many home insurance policies will not cover any damage that occurs when you’re gone. If you know you’ll be away for an extended period of time, consider some of our home protection tips.

How can I determine if my existing home insurance policy covers frozen pipes?

That’s easy! Give your insurance broker a call! Your insurance broker can answer any questions you have about your insurance policy. This includes questions about coverage for frozen pipes.

If you have any questions, contact one of our local branches.