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Frozen Pipes

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Frozen Pipes in Toronto – Are you At Risk this Season?

Is there a risk of frozen pipes in Toronto? Here at Hoerner, we aim to inform our clients to get the most from their residential plumbing systems. However, as the deep freeze sneaks up on them, many clients still end up with frozen pipes. Winter is our busiest time, as the polar vortex sweeps across the country and pipes freeze, becoming prone to bursting, causing thousands of dollars of damage to homes and businesses alike. 

Use our helpful tips below to find out how to avoid the inconvenience of frozen pipes, and what to do when it happens.

Frozen Pipe Facts

  • Water expands ~10% when frozen. 
  • November to April – That’s when Hoerner receives the most calls for frozen pipes. 
  • Up to 48% of insurance claims during the 2013/14 winter, were due to frozen, burst pipes.
  • 6°C  to – 15°C  – the temperatures at which pipes are most likely to freeze
  • Year 1960 – Houses built before that are more vulnerable to frozen pipes
  • Debris build-up make pipes more vulnerable to bursting.
  • Pipes are more likely to burst at joints or on bends.

SOURCE: http://www.hscorp.ca/our-programs-and-services/insurance/managing-risky-business/managing-risky-business-q2-2014/

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

  1. Reroute and / or insulate exposed pipes on the exterior walls, and in attics and crawl-spaces.
  2. Winterize your property during late summer, early fall.
  3. Maintain your boiler regularly.
  4. Turn up your hot water heater during severely cold climates.
  5. Open the faucets slightly during freeze periods to keep it moving in the pipes.
  6. Open doors in rooms with no heat to help warm air from other rooms to circulate.
  7. Invest in a hot water heater blanket.
  8. Shut off the main water supply if you will be away from home for more than 2 days.
  9. Leave the central heating on if you will be away.
  10. Pack away hoses and turn off outdoor water supply.

What to Do if Your Pipes Freeze

  • Turn off the main water supply to help prevent water damage.
  • If you have a burst pipe, turn off the electrical supply and don’t go into the basement.
  • DO NOT use any open flame to thaw your pipes.
  • Ask a neighbour if you could use their bathroom temporarily.
  • DO use a small hair dryer or space heater to heat the area (but don’t leave it unattended!)

Pipes still won’t thaw? Call Hoerner today at 416-463-2573!

Always ask a plumber if you are unsure how to prevent frozen pipes. We are not responsible if you do the above on your own. These are only tips from Hoerner. For best results hire a professional. We recommend calling an experienced heating and plumbing technician professional to assist you with all your heating needs. Call Hoerner Heating & Plumbing 416-463-2573.

See our Video on Tips That May Help Prevent Water Pipes Freezing During March Break

Every winter as the freeze deepens, we get tons of calls from customers whose plumbing has frozen solid. To help you avoid inconvenience and damage to your home, we’ve prepared an article that explains all about why plumbing freezes, how to prevent it and what to do if the worst happens to you.

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