Plumbing explainer
Preventing frozen pipes in a Toronto winter
Every Toronto winter has a few brutal weeks, and the lines that suffer first run beside outer walls, through crawlspaces and garages, or past the rim joist.
- Hose bibs drained
- Rim joist gaps sealed
- Foam sleeves on cold lines
- Thermostat set while away
Questions? Call(365) 517-7215. A plumber picks up, day or night.
- Open 24/7. Phone answered every hour, holidays too.
- Licensed & insured. Trade licence details given on request.
- Shown before cut. You see the fault and the plan first.
- Gas by gas techs. Licensed gas technicians on gas heaters.
Weak spots
- Check sinks set against exterior walls, washrooms above garages, pipes in crawlspaces and the line to the hose bib.
- Anywhere you feel a draft near a pipe is a risk.
Simple protection
- Foam pipe sleeves, sealing gaps in the rim joist, and opening cabinet doors on cold nights all help.
- Heat cable is useful on pipes that cannot be moved.
Before travelling
- Keep the heat at a reasonable setting, shut off and drain outdoor taps, and consider closing the main valve if you will be away for a long time.
Thawing a line that has already frozen
- If one tap gives a trickle and the rest of the house is fine, the freeze is usually in a short section near an outside wall.
- Open that tap so melt water can escape.
- Aim a hair dryer at the cold section, moving slowly from the tap back toward the cold spot.
- Never use a torch or an open flame on a frozen line, and call us if you find a bulge or a crack before the ice melts.
Close the main valve first, phone second.