Water Pipes Freezing In Attic

As discussed as to at what temperature do pipes freeze we know that water freezes at 32 degrees fahrenheit and therefore pipes that are installed outdoors have a much bigger chance of freezing as soon as it passes the 32 degrees fahrenheit mark.

Water pipes freezing in attic.

Field tests of residential water systems showed that for uninsulated pipes installed in an unheated attic freezing began when the outside temperature fell to 20 f or below. Surprisingly both hot and cold pipes can be at risk. It can potentially flood every floor of your home within a few minutes. Water inside the pipes can still freeze.

In many areas of the country where homes are built on a slab foundation water supply lines are routinely routed through the attic space. You can also wrap pipes in heat tape or heat cables with a thermostat control. But exposed plumbing in areas such as crawl spaces attics and garages may be at risk. Because the reality is if you end up with a burst pipe in your attic due to freezing the amount of water damage is going to be extensive.

Within minutes water will travel throughout your attic down your wall cavities and through your ceiling. Because most attics are unconditioned a hard freeze that plunges attic temperatures into the mid 20s for any length of time can cause a burst pipe. Insulation will help maintain water temperature levels in the pipes. Insulate pipes located in the attic and crawl space using pipe insulation even if the climate where you live does not often have hard freeze conditions.