Curious Iowa: How do you prevent burst or frozen pipes?

When Todd Bell walked into the Cedar Rapids American Youth Soccer Organization training facility at 2500 16th Ave SW on Jan. 22, he immediately knew something was wrong.

“I heard a noise and not something that I normally hear,” Bell, director of coaching for AYSO and AYSO United, told The Gazette.

A copper pipe had burst, sending water spraying into the air.

“Luckily, it didn’t get onto the field,” he said. “It just got the floor wet right next to the walls.”

The day before, the wind chill in Cedar Rapids had plummeted to minus 17 degrees, with a high of only 7 degrees. When it warmed up Jan. 22, the ice thawed, and the water erupted from the broken pipe.

An Iowa City resident wrote to Curious Iowa, a series from The Gazette that answers readers’ questions, to find out what people can do to prevent frozen or burst pipes.

We spoke with Ron Valenta, co-owner of Valenta Plumbing in Cedar Rapids, about what Iowans can do to keep their pipes running during freezing winter temperatures.

Why do pipes freeze and burst?

Pipes freeze when cold air reaches them. When water freezes, it expands and excessive pressure inside the pipe causes it to burst.

Valenta said copper pipes are the most common pipes to freeze and burst, whereas galvanized steel and cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) pipe typically don’t break when water freezes inside.

“The PEX pipe will expand and go back down, but nothing’s 100 percent. But the PEX pipe has been great as far as reducing the burst pipes,” Valenta said.

If a pipe is damaged when it freezes, the full extent of the damage will not be realized until the ice thaws.

“When it starts to warm up, that’s when it starts to leak and that’s when the damage happens from water leaking.” Valenta said.

He said the cost to fix burst pipes is determined on a case-by-case basis. If it’s a simple break in an exposed area, getting it fixed might cost a few hundred dollars. If the pipe is in a difficult to reach area, pricing varies.

How to prevent pipes from freezing, breaking

Brennen Trimble with Valenta Plumbing fixes a burst water pipe at the AYSO United Training Facility in southwest Cedar Rapids on Jan. 22. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

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Brennen Trimble with Valenta Plumbing solders a shut-off valve onto a copper pipe as he fixes a burst water pipe at the AYSO United Training Facility in southwest Cedar Rapids on Jan. 22. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

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A new shut-off valve and copper pipe is seen after Brennen Trimble with Valenta Plumbing fixed a burst water pipe at the AYSO United Training Facility in southwest Cedar Rapids on Jan. 22. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

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According to Valenta plumber Brennen Trimble, the culprit for the burst pipe at the AYSO practice field was a draft coming from an exterior door. It took Trimble about 10 minutes to fix it.

The best way to prevent a frozen or burst pipe is to ensure cold air can’t reach pipes. Valenta Plumbing recommends identifying drafts and preventing cold air from coming inside. Stopping the source is

“Stop the source,” Valenta said.

When temperatures drop dangerously low, consider leaving your faucets dripping or trickling throughout the night.

“You don’t need to have them drip much, one drip every 10 seconds, hot or cold, just to be sure,” Valenta said.

You also can open cabinet doors so pipes beneath a sink aren’t cut off from warm air.

If you’re leaving your home from an extended period of time, the American Red Cross recommends setting your thermostat no lower than 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Consider asking a trusted neighbor to check on your home to make sure water is still running.

You can also insulate your pipes with pool noodles or products like foam pipe sleeves. According to the American Red Cross, “even 1/4 inch of newspaper can provide significant protection in areas that usually do not have frequent or prolonged temperatures below freezing.”

Outdoor faucets commonly freeze and break. This typically occurs when hoses are left on faucets, trapping air and water. Protect outdoor faucets by detaching and draining hoses before temperatures drop.

How to thaw a frozen pipe

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The burst pipe at the soccer practice field reminded Bell of last winter, when a pipe in his home froze. Temperatures dropped below zero and it was especially windy on the side of the house where his kitchen is located. After discovering water wasn’t running, Bell worked to thaw the line.

“We had to put blow heaters in there, hair dryer, and whatever we could do to try and get it go,” Bell said.

Valenta said frozen pipes typically happen in older homes with leaks in the foundation or in pipes located on outside walls.

If your home has a frozen pipe, put a gentle heat source on it like a hair dryer, electric heating pad or towels soaked in hot water. Do not use an open flame on the pipe. If you can’t reach or find where the pipe is frozen, contact a licensed plumber.

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Comments: bailey.cichon@thegazette.com