How a Frozen Pipe Bursts | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey demonstrates how and why frozen pipes burst. #ThisOldHouse #AskTOH SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse Shopping List: Pipe insulation [https://amzn.to/2OLZO7N] Steps: 1. Pipes can freeze if the temperature drops below freezing and the pipes are exposed to that temperature for a prolonged period of time. 2. When water freezes, it expands in volume by 9%. When this happens in a closed pipe, the ice displaces the water, which increases its pressure exponentially. If this is allowed to go on for too long, the pipe will burst. 3. When a water pipe bursts, an immense amount of water will come pouring out and will not stop until the water is shutoff somewhere upstream. Richard recommends labeling the main water shutoff in the house and ensuring every family member knows exactly where it is so it can be turned off as quickly as possible. 4. Once the water has been shut off, call a plumber to have it repaired. Be mindful of any nearby electronics or electrical wiring that may have gotten wet during the burst and be sure to steer clear of it. 5. Here are a few tips to prevent the pipes from freezing in the first place: a. Insulate the pipes b. Open cabinet doors on cold days to allow the warmer air from the house to keep the pipes warm c. Slightly open the faucet that’s the farthest away from the water main. Just a few dribbles will work. This will relieve any pressure that could build up if the pipes freeze. Resources: Richard demonstrated that pipes, when frozen, expand in volume, which exponentially increases the water pressure and forces the pipe to burst. In these circumstances, shut the water off at the main and immediately call a plumber. To prevent the pipes from freezing in the first place, Richard recommended keeping cabinet doors open and insulating the pipes with pipe insulation. This can be found at home centers. About Ask This Old House TV: Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook. Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter http://bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG Tumblr: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTumblr Keywords: This Old House, Ask This Old House, DIY, Home Improvement, DIY Ideas, Renovation, Renovation Ideas, How To Fix, How To Install, How To Build, Richard Trethewey, plumbing, pipes, frozen, burst Watch the full episode: https://ift.tt/2GJYwpo How a Frozen Pipe Bursts | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/