If Your Furnace Isn’t Working Will Your Pipes Freeze?

Your warm home is a refuge for you and your family during the winter months, especially here in Montana. While it can be fun to play in the snow and cold, you always want a toasty house to come back to. But what if something goes wrong, and the heating source in your home fails? Because we are using them more often and relying on them, winter is the worst time to have your furnace break. If your home is left without heat for even a few hours, it can be exposed to additional, more serious risks, including a burst pipe. If your furnace isn’t working, it could increase the chances that your pipes will freeze and burst.

A Broken Furnace May Increase Chances Of Pipe Bursting

There are many variables in whether the pipes in your home are susceptible to freezing, including age, structure of the home, location of the pipes and insulation. However, in Montana where temperatures can get pretty low during the winter, it may only take a few hours for a vulnerable pipe to freeze. If the furnace goes out, there is a chance your pipes may freeze and burst, adding water damage, flooding and additional plumbing costs. However, there are several preventative measures you can take to prevent pipes freezing and bursting if your furnace goes out.

Addressing Pipe Bursts Before The Furnace Goes Out

Like many things in life, preparation is the key to success! Before your furnace goes out, before there is ever an issue, there are a few steps you as a homeowner can take to help prepare your pipes to withstand the cold. While these steps alone may not prevent pipes from freezing, they may stop freezing and bursting when combined with quick work when – and if – the furnace does go out.

  • Insulate the Pipes –  If you have pipes that are exposed to open air, such as those in crawl spaces or basements, you can add insulation to improve resistance to the cold. This could keep the water inside warmer, delaying any freezing. Pipe insulation is generally inexpensive, and can be purchased and fitted by the homeowner with ease.
  • Insulate The Home – Older homes or homes that have been through extensive remodels may have inadequate insulation throughout the home. Ensure your home has adequate insulation, keeping heat inside throughout the whole home, to ensure you are not losing heat, especially if your heat source goes out. An added bonus is that this will help save you money on heating and cooling costs!
  • Utilize Heat Cables – If you suspect your pipes may be susceptible to freezing for any reason, you can invest in heating cables; these run alongside the pipe, providing heat via electricity.
  • Know Your Home – It is also important to know your home, including where the shutoff valve for your water supply is located. This way, if a pipe does burst for any reason, you can react quickly to shut off the water.

Preventing Pipe Bursts Even When The Furnace Goes Out

If your furnace goes out, the first step should be to contact a professional heating and cooling expert who can come to your home to help fix the broken furnace. However, in the meantime, you may want to take some steps to help prevent your pipes from freezing.

  • Start A Slow Drip – One way to help prevent your pipes from freezing is to create a slow drip from the faucet to keep the water moving and lower the pressure buildup in the pipe. This can also be helpful if you are going out of town during the cold season, and want to take precautionary measures to prevent a burst pipe while you are away.
  • Add Portable Heat – If the furnace is out in your home, you have probably already broken out the space heaters. When placing these additional electric heaters, keep in mind where pipes and plumbing is housed, and try to ensure the plumbing gets some heat as well.
  • Allow Air To Circulate – Open cabinets, closets and doors to spaces where plumbing is housed to allow warmer air to circulate around these pipes.
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