Even so, outside temperatures generally have to fall to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit or below before your pipes will freeze or burst due to freezing.
This finding was supported by a survey of 71 plumbers practicing in southern states, in which the consensus was that burst pipe problems began to appear when temperatures fell into the teens. However, freezing incidents can occur when the temperature remains above 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
Whenever winter weather drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, your indoor and outdoor pipes are at risk of freezing. While it is possible for pipes to freeze and thaw without causing any problems, water freezing within a pipe expands, raises pressure inside of the pipe, and may cause a burst pipe.
Regardless of how long you will be traveling and away from home, keep your thermostat set at 68 degrees Fahrenheit or above. This will help to keep the pipes on the inside of the home from freezing and the ones under the home at a slightly higher temperature as well.
In the anomalous expansion, water contracts on heating and expands on cooling in the range 0∘Cto4∘C. Therefore, water pipes sometimes burst, in cold countries. At 4° C, the cage like Structure of Ice starts to break and the gases escape out due to which the volume of water decreases.
Even so, outside temperatures generally have to fall to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit or below before your pipes will freeze or burst due to freezing. Still, you might not want to wait for temperatures to fall that low before taking precautions to protect your pipes from freezing.
Pipes are most likely to burst when exposed to below-freezing conditions for six hours or more, which can happen throughout winter and early spring. Burst pipes could lead to a disaster, bringing severe water damage to your home. To protect your plumbing this spring, follow our three tips to help prevent frozen pipes.
Preventing burst and frozen pipes
keep the home as warm as possible even if you are out. lag pipes in exposed or draughty places. leave the trap door to roofspace open to let warm air flow in during extreme weather conditions when there is the chance that un-lagged water tanks and pipes could freeze.
Usually, temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius can freeze your pipes. But, below -6 degrees, your pipes can burst. However, this event can be prevented as long as you insulate your pipes using high-quality materials.
Recommended Temperature When You Are Home
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends setting your thermostat no lower than 64 degrees (F) in the Winter months while people are in the home. If there are infants or elderly individuals, they recommend keeping the temperature at 70 degrees at a minimum.
Keep your thermostat at 65 degrees when leaving your home
"We recommend leaving your thermostat to 65 degrees, no lower than that," Jose Salas, a spokesperson for Denver Water, told CBS News Colorado. "Just to make sure we keep a nice temperature in the home for pipes to not burst."
High Water Pressure
At the most, your water pressure should never exceed 60 psi. If it does, your water pipes are vulnerable to bursting.
While turning the heating off will save money in terms of fuel bills, it's a false economy. Your home will be exposed to sub-zero temperatures and the devastating consequences of repairing significant damage should pipes burst.
As water flows out of a burst pipe, you may notice damp or discolored patches on your walls, floors or ceilings. If the leak happens under a tiled floor, it could make the tiles feel wobbly or unstable. Don't forget to look for exterior signs of a burst pipe.
Also, keep in mind that hot water has the potential of causing the soil around your outdoor pipes to move, which can damage and even break the pipes. This is especially true when the weather is dryer.
Water pipes burst because the water inside them expands as it gets close to freezing, and this causes an increase in pressure inside the pipe. When the pressure gets too high for the pipe to contain, it ruptures. This expansion phenomenon seems natural, but interestingly, it is a chemical anomaly.
The pipes most at risk are those in unheated interior spaces such as basements, attics, and garages. But even pipes running through cabinets or exterior walls can freeze. The good news is there are some simple things you can do to keep your water running and your house dry.
Pipes that are the most at risk of bursting are those that are exposed: located outside of building insulation, or in unheated interior areas like basements, attics and crawl spaces.
If the temperature falls to 32 degrees or lower, your pipes are likely to freeze.
Uninsulated pipes can freeze when temperatures reach just -6 degrees Celsius.
Like ice buildup, clogs can block pipes and cause pressure to build. If this pressure becomes too great, the pipe is likely to burst. Clogging can be caused by hair, soap scum, bathroom products, food or other materials ending up in a drain or toilet.
Can Pipes Freeze in an Apartment? The short answer is yes; the pipes in your apartment can freeze. When this happens, it's usually due to a combination of three factors: a rapid drop in outside temperature, poor insulation, and cold air inside the apartment when the thermostat is set too low.
If your pipes get too cold they can freeze and water may stop flowing through them. However, the inconvenience isn't your only worry. Water expands when it freezes. If it has nowhere to go, it pushes against the sides of your pipes and can cause them to crack and burst.