Why Do Pipes Burst in Winter?

Why Do Pipes Burst in Winter?

Why Do Pipes Burst in Winter?

Perhaps surprisingly, freezing pipes don't burst due to ice expanding in situ. Instead, it's to try to with the pressure inside the pipes. When water freezes, its molecules crystalize into an open hexagonal form, which takes up more room than when the molecules are in their liquid form that’s, the water molecules expand as they freeze.

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As the ice expands, it pushes water toward the closed faucet. This causes an immense amount of water pressure to create between the ice blockage and therefore the faucet eventually, the pipe ruptures under the pressure, usually at a spot where there's little or no ice. The pipe areas upstream of the ice clog aren't typically in peril of bursting because the pressure isn't great enough. During this case, the water isn't blocked, and may always retreat back to its source.

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Pipes that are the foremost in danger of bursting are those located outside of building insulation, or those in unheated interior areas, including basements, attics, and crawl spaces. Heating or insulating these vulnerable pipes with fiberglass or foam sleeves can help prevent them from bursting. Additionally, keeping the facet open and letting the water run even at just a trickle will help prevent the water pressure from building to dangerous levels.