How to Protect Your Pipes From Toronto’s Cold Climate

Toronto winters are notorious for being bone-chillingly cold, and we’re used to layering up in our winter gear to tackle it. Obviously, it’s not like we can wrap our pipes in a puffer jacket to keep them from freezing.

However, if the necessary steps aren’t taken, you will almost certainly encounter problems with frozen pipes. If not addressed, frozen pipes can lead to a number of issues, such as water damage, putrid smells, and electrical problems.

Although none of us can control the weather, there are steps we can take to protect our pipes from Toronto’s chilly climate. Of course, sometimes, even when all the precautionary steps are taken, pipes can still freeze or even burst. In such cases, it’s important to know what to do and when to call for plumbing services in Toronto.

In this article, we’ll discuss the steps you can take to prevent your pipes from freezing and what to do if they burst.

Continuous Flow

One of the easiest things you can do in the winter is maintain a continuous flow of water. This simply means keeping a small flow of water running to protect susceptible pipes from freezing.

Although it may sound inconvenient, this stream should be kept going continuously until temperatures around the pipes stabilize, which would be around 10 to 16 degrees Celsius. This trick is exceptionally great for any uncovered connecting outdoor pipes, as these are liable to freeze more than indoor pipes.

Protecting Exterior Fixtures

Related to the previous point on exterior fixtures, there are other things you can do to keep them from freezing. When temperatures drop, these conditions can severely affect outdoor fixtures, making them a top priority when monitoring the pipes.

To prevent damage to external pipes, we advise homeowners to unhook any hoses, allow faucets to drain, and properly switch off external water systems. With hoses, make sure they are fully drained and have no water inside before putting them away for the cold season.

Keep Cabinets Open

Another very simple thing you can do yourself without having to call a plumber in Toronto is to keep the cabinets open. Of course, this doesn’t mean every cabinet in your home, just the ones that have pipes inside.

Keeping cabinets open will allow heat from your home to get at those pipes, which would otherwise be covered, and keep them warm. This step is especially critical if you have pipes inside cupboards attached to an outside wall.

Keep It Hot

It’s time to put on your overalls and be prepared to get a bit of dirt on them. Check out your attic, basement, garage, and any crawlspaces. These areas are well known for barely getting any heat during the winter. Take the time to assess these spaces and see if they have an adequate amount of insulation to keep your pipes from freezing.

Warm Air Circulation

We all know how the energy bill can go up in the winter, but if you’re willing to shell out a bit more, it could save your pipes.

Alternatively, instead of just turning up your thermostat, you could also get a space heater. This will allow you to choose the areas, like attics and crawl spaces as previously mentioned, that specifically need more heat to keep the pipes from freezing.

If possible, opt for a kerosene-style heater rather than an electrical one, as they can continue running in case of a power outage.

How to Thaw Frozen Pipes

Despite our best efforts, pipes can still freeze due to the cold Ontario weather. Here are a few things you can do to try and thaw them before calling a licensed plumber in Toronto:

Locate the Pipe

The first step is to find which pipe has frozen and go from there. In this scenario, the pipe would most likely be close to an exterior wall or in poorly insulated areas like the garage. The easiest way to identify which part of the pipe has been affected is to look and feel for anywhere it may be expanding.

Keep It Warm

Once you’ve located the affected area, try warming it up. Use either a handheld dryer or a warm rag to help speed up the process of thawing the pipe. Remember that this will take anywhere from two to six hours, so be patient and vigilant.

What to Do if a Frozen Pipe Bursts

Perhaps you were gone on holiday longer than you meant to be, or you forgot to keep the heat on, and a pipe not only froze over, but burst as well. Although unfortunate, there are steps you can take to mitigate the damage before contacting a plumber in Toronto:

1. Switch off the water flow that the fixture is connected to and drain the pipes as soon as possible.
2. Remove any valuable possessions you may have in the affected area to avoid water damage.
3. Try a temporary fix using either a patch kit, sleeve clamp, or, in the worst-case scenario, duct tape.
4. Identify what has been damaged by taking notes and photos, in case you need to submit a claim to your insurance company.
5. Call a plumber in Toronto immediately, as they will be able to fix the pipe and assess the area for any other damage or even signs of mould.

Protection Through Prevention

In conclusion, prevention is key when it comes to dealing with Toronto’s cold climate. Be sure to take some time out of your day before the temperature drops to assess areas of your home that need to be monitored.

Being proactive costs nothing, but can save you hundreds of dollars in the long run, protect your valuables from water damage, and potentially prevent any injury from being too close to a pipe when it bursts. Stay up to date with the weather forecasts in your area, keep a patch kit handy, and have the number of a plumbing service in Toronto on standby.

For more information about frozen pipes, call the professionals at Brothers Plumbing at 800-741-8471 or contact us here.