Freezing Pipes

Water has a very unique property. It expands as it freezes. That expansion can put tremendous pressure on whatever is containing the water, including metal or plastic pipes.

The house in Alexandria, Virginia, had water flow issues. Pipes were installed that could easily freeze, causing them to burst. In colder climates, there are some precautions that need to be taken during winter months to keep this from happening:

• Since you won't be doing much - if any - watering, each winter shut off the water flow to outside faucets, disconnect all garden hoses and drain the lines.
  
• Open doors to cabinets that contain pipes running along exterior walls. This allows warm air to circulate.
  
• Pipes running through attics and crawl spaces should be wrapped with insulation or heating tape.

If a frozen pipe does burst, make sure to shut off the main water valve and call a plumber.