Winter’s here and if you think it’s cold now, wait another month! In our plumbing world, it’s time to check our pipes before the ultra cold temperatures put your pipes at risk of freezing. Frozen pipes are prone to splitting, as the ice inside them expands – causing pipes, fittings, and even hot water cylinders to leak.They can also completely burst, causing a lot of water damage that could be avoided with a bit of preventative maintenance.
What is pipe lagging?
This isn’t just an issue in snowy regions. Pipes in warmer parts of NSW can also be vulnerable if they’re not insulated and a hard frost strikes. Don’t forget, even in Sydney’s CBD, the temperature can get down to 3 degrees overnight and in the west, it’s been known to get into the minus temps.
Like the rest of us, pipes like to be kept warm. If the pipes running from your hot water cylinder to the roof are likely to get iced up, it’s a good idea to lag them – in fact, this is now a must for all new plumbing.
What is pipe lagging?
Pipe lagging is another (more commonly used) name for pipe insulation. It’s generally used to help conserve heat in pipes, to prevent condensation, or to reduce the noise that comes out of pipes. Pipe lagging is made from many different types of materials, including some used for insulation in other parts of the home. Pipe lagging may be made from any of the following:
- Flexible, elastometric foams
- Rigid foam
- Polyethylene
- Glass wool
- Mineral wool
If you live in an area known for frosts, we recommend lagging pipes outside, in your garage, attic space, or under your floor. In some cases, the tip of the pipe can get plugged with ice. Your Pro Plumber can see if this happens in your home and put measures in place to fix it. If you have a property that may be unoccupied for some time (a holiday home, for example), and it’s in an area known for frost, you may need specialised plumbing that can be drained to avoid frozen pipes.
If your pipes do freeze, shut off the water supply outside and get in contact with Pro Plumber.
