Lows are dropping into the 20s this weekend, and the first real cold isn't far behind. Now is the cheap time to deal with pipes. In January it's the expensive time.
The best local resource on this is the UAF Cooperative Extension Service guide, Keeping Your House Operating During a Cold Alaska Winter. It's written for places that see 40, 50, and even 60 below. Most of what's below comes from it.
Where pipes freeze in Fairbanks homes
- Pipes on outside walls, especially under kitchen and bathroom sinks
- Crawl spaces, unheated garages, and arctic entries
- The spot where the main line comes into the house
- Drain lines under the house, especially the first elbow under the soil
- Anywhere a car drives over a buried line, since packed soil lets the cold go deeper
How to prevent frozen pipes before the cold hits
- Know where your main water shutoff is, and make sure it turns. Tag it so anyone in the house can find it.
- Insulate exposed pipes and close up gaps where cold air gets into the crawl space.
- Install heat tape on pipes in unheated areas, following the maker's directions. UAF notes thermostat-controlled tapes save power because they only run when needed. Plug one in now to make sure it still works.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks on cold nights so warm air reaches the pipes.
- Keep a little water moving. UAF says a small, steady flow usually prevents freeze-up.
Don't let dripping water freeze your drain
Here's the Fairbanks twist a lot of people miss. UAF warns that a slow drip going down the drain can freeze and block the drain under the house, building a little glacier in the pipe. Their tip: catch the drip in a bucket and pour it down the drain all at once so it rushes through.
What to do if your pipes freeze
From the UAF guide:
- Find the main shutoff first so you can close it fast if a pipe cracked.
- Open taps one at a time. If some work and others don't, you've narrowed it down. If none work, the main line is probably frozen where it enters the house.
- A hair dryer is usually very effective. Hot, wet rags work on pipes you can reach, and a space heater pointed at the wall can help with hidden pipes.
- UAF says torches have started devastating house fires. Skip the open flame.
- Stay home and watch while it thaws. If water starts gushing, shut off the main right away.
Leaving town this winter?
Never leave the house without someone checking on it. If the heat goes out while you're gone, the pipes go next. Have a friend or neighbor stop by every day or two, and leave them the shutoff location and a number to call.
When to call for help
Our take: frozen pipes are mostly a heat problem wearing a plumbing costume. If the furnace or boiler quits, call for no-heat service in Fairbanks before the pipes freeze. If something has already split or won't thaw, get an emergency plumber in Fairbanks out fast. And for insulating, sealing gaps, or putting up heat tape, our Fairbanks handyman can take care of it. Once a leak is fixed and things are dry, The Alaska Cleaning Company can do the cleanup. Call them at 907-341-4086.
Painting: Good Hand Co.