Preparing Your Needham Home’s Plumbing for Freezing Temperatures
Cold weather can reveal plumbing weaknesses that stay unnoticed through much of the year. In Needham, pipes near exterior walls, basements, garages, crawl spaces, and foundation areas can become vulnerable once temperatures remain below freezing. Many winter plumbing problems begin with small issues that seem harmless during fall. A garden hose may still be connected outside. A pipe may have little or no insulation. A gap near the rim joist may be letting cold air reach a water line. Once temperatures drop, these minor conditions can quickly become much more serious. Water expands by roughly 9 percent when it freezes. Inside a pipe, this expansion increases pressure on joints, fittings, connections, and weaker sections of plumbing. If the pressure becomes too great, a crack or break can develop. Outdoor faucets, exposed water lines, older water heaters, and sump pump discharge lines are all areas that should be reviewed before winter weather becomes severe. Needham's mix of older a...