In this article, we\u2019ll be going into crawlspaces during winter, preventing pipes from freezing, what to do when your pipe is frozen, and what not to do if you have a frozen pipe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to prevent pipes freezing in a crawlspace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A good rule of thumb is to constantly maintain a temperature above 50 degrees Fahrenheit( 10 degrees Celsius) to prevent your pipe from freezing. Since crawlspaces are exposed to cold winds and permafrost, you\u2019ll need to do the following measures to ensure that the temperature within your crawlspace is regulated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Insulation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Insulation is defined as the prevention of temperature changes between one object to another. The type of insulation finish to use highly depends on how your crawlspace is built. We\u2019ll only be tackling the general process of insulating a crawlspace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Walls and floors<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll need to insulate the walls and floors of your crawlspace, first and foremost. Walls are exposed to the outside air and part of the ground, while floors can be exposed to permafrost(unless you already have frost walls that prevent this from happening). Foam insulation can be used for these two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Crawlspace ceiling<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
We want to prevent heat loss for your house and at the same time prevent cold air from escaping into it. Adding an insulation barrier to your crawlspace will help seal in the air, making it much easier for it to be regulated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Gaps<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
As much as possible, we don\u2019t want cold air to steep into the crawlspace or escape into where the pipes are located. It\u2019s recommended that you fill up any gaps between your installed insulation as much as you can to prevent this from happening. Foam sprays can be used for this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Pipes<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll also want to insulate the pipes themselves. Having your pipes taped with insulation material(heat tape), etc., can be used to ensure that the temperature of your pipe and inside your pipe doesn\u2019t fall to freezing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Control the air<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to keeping things warm, the most efficient way is regulating the air temperature of a given space. As we all know, warm air tends to move up while cold air tends to move down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During wintertime, it\u2019s advised that you prevent the stack effect from happening. The stack effect refers to air movement due to the difference in air pressure between the outside environment and the inside environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For a simplified explanation, cold air is denser than warm. Cold air will tend to steep into a building, which will force warm air to move out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Your heating system will play a big role in reducing the likelihood of your pipes freezing. Besides heating your home, you should also emphasize making sure that your crawlspace receives warm air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A dedicated heater for your crawlspace can be utilized, be warned, however, that too much heat can cause moisture to form, and if the heat were to shut off, this could increase the likelihood of your pipes freezing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gate Valves<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gate valves are your first and last line of defense. It\u2019s essential that you know which gate valve closes which plumbing fixture in your house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If a pipe is frozen, your gate valve can prevent water pressure from building up, which prevents the pipes from bursting. Make sure that your gate valves are also protected and won\u2019t get frozen shut during the wintertime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Preparation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In general, if you know that cold temperatures are coming, then you should do the necessary preparations. These are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Clean everything<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll want to make sure that everything\u2019s in order before the winter comes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Check everything<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
While cleaning, check if the parts of your house are in good condition. You\u2019ll have more to worry about than frozen pipes if you find that your attic\u2019s insulation is also in bad condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Drainage<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Exposed and outdoor water systems such as pools, sprinklers, hoses, and faucets should be protected and drained. You probably won\u2019t use these during the wintertime, and it\u2019s best to take steps to ensure that these don\u2019t get damaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Know what to do<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
All parts of a structure affect one another. Ensure that you also know the preventive measures needed to take during the wintertime for the other parts of your home (exterior walls, roofs, windows, electrical, etc.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For pipes, make sure that you keep a bit of water running during the coldest days of winter. Running water rarely freezes while still water can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/whatblueprint.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Do-Pipes-Freeze-in-a-Crawlspace-02.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow to tell if your pipe is frozen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
All plumbing systems have two distinct types of pipes, which are water pipes and drainage pipes. These two types of pipes have their own signs indicating if they are frozen or not. It\u2019s important that you know the distinction between the two before trying to mend a frozen pipe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Signs of a Frozen Pipe<\/strong><\/td> <\/td><\/tr> Water pipe<\/strong><\/td> Drainage Pipe<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Frost on the pipe<\/td> Frost on the pipe<\/td><\/tr> Water pressure suddenly weakens\/ is gone entirely<\/td> Drains suddenly clog\/ water drains slower than usual<\/td><\/tr> Water leaking from the pipe<\/td> Water leaking from the pipe<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n One of the best advantages of having a crawlspace-type foundation is how accessible utilities are. If you suspect that your pipes are frozen, you can easily see yourself if they really are. You\u2019ll also be able to identify which pipes are frozen and which ones aren\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What to do if your pipes freeze in a crawlspace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If your pipe is already frozen, your first concern should be preventing any more damage from happening to your water system. Here are the steps that you should take if you find a frozen pipe in your crawlspace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Stop the water<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
To prevent water pressure from building up within your pipes, you\u2019ll first need to turn your gate valve to stop the flow of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Assess the damage<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Check for any cracks or deformations along your pipes. If any, it signifies that pressure has already done damage to your pipe, and you\u2019ll most likely need to have it repaired\/changed. If there are no visible signs of damage, you can attempt to thaw the pipe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Repairs\/Thawing<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
If your pipe has minor cracks, you can use tape to act as a temporary sealant until the weather gets better. If your pipe has a gaping hole or deformed, then you\u2019ll need to call in a repairman to have it fixed\/replaced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If there\u2019s no visible damage, you can attempt to heat the part of the pipe you believe is frozen. A common suggestion is to use a hairdryer to thaw the pipes by directing the warm air throughout the pipe\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Usage<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
As a method of testing if your pipe is okay. Turn your gate valve back and turn on the faucets to check if the water pressure is back to normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Freezing pipes are a big concern but can be avoided as long as you have the right preventive measures in place. Having a crawlspace foundation allows you to easily check on your pipes and see what\u2019s going on if anything goes wrong. When dealing with frozen pipes, the most important thing is to make sure you know where your gate valves are located. This prevents further damage caused by a freezing pipe and allows you to do the necessary repairs once the weather clears up.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Freezing pipes are a major concern for homeowners. There\u2019s nothing worse than having water-problems in the middle of winter. The question now is if your…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1043,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":30,"label":"Plumbing & Piping"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/whatblueprint.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Do-Pipes-Freeze-in-a-Crawlspace-00.jpg",350,200,false],"author_info":{"display_name":"Glen Mcilroy","author_link":"https:\/\/whatblueprint.com\/author\/whatblueprint\/"},"comment_info":2,"category_info":[{"term_id":30,"name":"Plumbing & Piping","slug":"plumbing-piping","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":30,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":27,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":30,"category_count":27,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Plumbing & Piping","category_nicename":"plumbing-piping","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatblueprint.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1042"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatblueprint.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatblueprint.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatblueprint.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatblueprint.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1042"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/whatblueprint.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1042\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6611,"href":"https:\/\/whatblueprint.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1042\/revisions\/6611"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatblueprint.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1043"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatblueprint.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1042"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatblueprint.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1042"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatblueprint.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1042"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Usage<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Repairs\/Thawing<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Assess the damage<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Stop the water<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Know what to do<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Drainage<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Check everything<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Clean everything<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Pipes<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Gaps<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Crawlspace ceiling<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n