Winter Weather Leads to Frozen Pipes: Be Proactive

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The first and best-known plumbing risk of the winter months is frozen pipes. Water carries a unique property in that freezing causes expansion; as a result, any pipes that carry water that may freeze will be put under additional strain when trying to contain water. As the temperature drops certain pipes are at greater risk than others, so pay special attention to any outdoor pipes that are likely to be exposed to the extreme cold. This generally includes swimming pool supply lines, outdoor house bibs and lines connected to water sprinklers. However, we also encourage our customers to pay attention to any interior lines that are not in heated areas, such as those that run through basements, crawl spaces, garages, or attics. Lastly, check up on any pipes that run against exterior-facing walls that have little to no insulation from the cold.

To prevent pipe freezing, be sure to keep at-risk areas as warm as possible. Keep garage doors closed and kitchen and bathroom cabinets open; this allows warm air to circulate in these areas and prevent the water in them from freezing. It is also important to keep the heat at roughly 50 degrees F in your house at all times, whether you are there or not. This may incur a slightly higher heating bill, but will prevent much more costly repairs if your pipes were to freeze or burst. If you’ve had problems with frozen pipes before or feel that your house or business is at particular risk, be proactive in your approach.

John Guest, for example, takes a great amount of pride in its ability to keep its customers’ plumbing needs covered year-round. Now that winter is just around the corner, John Guest thought it would be useful to remind its customers of the plumbing risks associated with the upcoming drop in temperature.

If you do find yourself in that unfortunate circumstance, John Guest has committed time and effort to developing the products necessary to tackle this problem. John Guest Speedfit slip connectors provide plumbers with a quick, simple, and easy fix to the issue of burst pipes. Our slip connectors come in two sizes and can be used to fix pipe bursts on PEX, CPVC, and copper pipes.

John Guest slip connectors feature push-fit connections, allowing for rapid installation that should at least temporarily solve the leakage that comes with burst pipes. The push-fit fitting allows all of this to be accomplished without altering any additional pipe work. Like all John Guest products, our Speedfit slip connectors are made with the most sophisticated technology available, assuring our customers that they are receiving only the highest quality performances from John Guest products.

 

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