Preventing Your Water Heater from Bursting In a Calgary Home

November 4, 2015 Guest Post

With falling temperatures also comes the risk of frozen pipes, which can lead to your water heater bursting. However, with a few simple precautions, this risk can be completely avoided. Remember, if you are in a freeze prone area you should take these steps early to prevent any substantial damage to your pipes, water heater or home.

 

Drain and Disconnect
You should drain and disconnect any outdoor water hoses. Only one overnight, hard freeze can cause a significant amount of damage. If you detach the hose, the water will drain from the pipe and prevent this damage.

 

 

Insulation is Key

Insulate faucets and pipes that are in areas that are not heated. If you have pipes that are in unprotected areas, such as crawl spaces or garages, these are likely going to be vulnerable to freeze when the temperature plummets. You can get pipe insulating materials, as well as advice, at your local hardware store about how to prevent the freezing of these pipes.

 

 

Sealing Doors and Windows

Seal off any doors, windows, air vent and cracks that may be present. Many times you may overlook a broken window in the basement or cracks in the wall, which can be funnels for winter winds. These can quickly freeze any exposed water pipes, which may lead to a water heater that cannot work and bursts. It is important to fix these issues and not just cover them to avoid your water heater getting good combustion.

 

 

Location of the Master Valve

You should also know where the master valve for water shutoff is. In many cases this will be located near the washing machine or hot water tank. However, it is usually located where the water line actually enters your home from the street. If a pipe ruptures or an issue occurs with the hot water heater, this is where you would turn off the water. You should tag this valve and make sure that everyone knows where it is in the case of an emergency.

 

 

If you still have questions of how you can protect your water heater and pipes, you can call your local water company. There are some companies that prefer you call them for any issues that may arise. However, it is still important to prevent damage to your pipes and ultimately your water heater. The cost of a burst hot water heater can be substantial, especially if it causes flooding in your home. Hiring great plumbers Calgary is also a great way to reduce damage.