Have you heard that you should leave a faucet dripping but aren’t sure when that applies? This is often recommended in areas of the home with less insulated pipes and in rooms that aren’t heated when temperatures outdoors are supposed to be below freezing. When water freezes, it expands, which causes the pipes to burst, cracks to start, and plumbing emergencies to occur. Affordable Service Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Electric has some friendly information about identifying the rooms in your home that need the faucet left dripping.
Dripping faucets work by relieving the pressure in the pipes while the water is off. It’s a common misconception that the running water’s motion through the lines prevents the pipes from freezing, but even in extremely low temperatures, they can still freeze and cause damage. Pipes that do freeze typically don’t begin to wreak havoc until temperatures warm and the lines thaw, and the water moves freely. Affordable Service Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Electric recommend that when temperatures drop at or below 20°F, you should leave at least one faucet dripping. It’s also highly advisable that the faucet you choose is as far away from the pipe you are trying to keep moving because it allows the pressure to be relieved along a longer stretch of piping.
Another good thing to know as a homeowner is where your main water shut-off valve is. Even taking all the preventative steps, you take as a homeowner trying to avoid a plumbing emergency can still happen. The good news is that Affordable Service Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Electric offer a 24/7 emergency response team to help homeowners and business owners when an emergency happens outside of our regular business hours. You can check out our site for more information about our plumbing services.
