A sudden change in outside temperature poses risks both at the beginning and at the end of the cold season. “Extremely cold temperatures are not suitable for most electronic devices. Just as cars don’t want to start in the freezing cold and phone batteries tend to run out faster, you also need to think about keeping your home property warm,” says Kristiina Sooviku, water quality manager at Tallinna Vee.
The previous cold snap showed that water meters stopped working in homes where the water unit is located in a very cold room. However, the most dangerous period is the end of the cold wave, when sub-zero degrees are followed by an increase in air temperature. “That’s when water pipes tend to freeze,” she pointed out.
To save the property owner the financial costs associated with water meter replacement and to avoid freezing water systems and burst pipes, you should follow the tips provided.
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Make sure that the cold does not reach the pipes and water meter: the room where the water unit is located should be at least plus 2 degrees. This means that the room must be insulated.
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Check that the heating is turned on in the water node room.
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If the water unit is located in the basement, basement windows and doors must be properly closed and, if necessary, sealed to resist heat. If necessary, add insulation, as windows and doors tend to be more permeable to the cold.
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In rural houses and other buildings not used in winter, remove the water meter, close the main tap and drain the water from the pipes (including the kettle, toilet cistern, sink and toilet drain, etc. water knots).
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If the pipe freezes and it is not possible to insulate it, as a short-term measure, the water tap can be left slightly open to allow the water to circulate, thus reducing the rate of freezing of the pipe.
What to do if the pipeline is already frozen?
Identify the point where the cold has reached the pipes.
If these are not extensive freezes, begin to slowly warm the pipes with safe means (for example, a heater). You have to be very careful when doing this because ice expands when it melts and can cause the pipe to crack.
If frozen pipes are extensive, contact a plumbing company for assistance.
What are the risks at the end of the cold period when the climate warms again?
The condensed water on the surface of the pipe helps the internal surface of the pipe and the water in the pipe to cool as the temperature increases. A similar process also occurs with the soil during the thawing period, and the risk of frost continues. During the thaw period, when a layer of water forms on the ground resulting from melting snow, the freezing point of the ground can decrease further. “This means that if, for example, during a severe frost, the freezing point of the soil was about 1.10 m, after the thaw it will already be 10 cm deeper, that is, at a depth of 1.20 m,” he explains Soovik.
“A cold wave causes a lot of worries for people: the room might be cold, the car might not start and you have to think carefully about how children can get to school and nursery without catching a cold. So it is understandable that people don’t think about water pipes and water meters first, but broken pipes and replacement of water meters are financial costs that can be avoided. Like any technique, the water knot also needs more degrees to work, and it’s cheaper to think about it before damage occurs,” he advises.
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2024-01-12 13:22:30
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