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Keeping pipes from bursting during the cold

Running a small trickle of water can help to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting during periods of extremely cold weather. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

TUPPER LAKE — Burst pipes that result from frozen water are one of the most common — and costliest — home insurance claims filed across the country each year, especially in cold-weather zones.

With a long-duration cold pattern set up and holding steady over the eastern United States, temperatures in and around the Tri-Lakes region are expected to remain below freezing, save for a brief possible “warmup” this weekend, with temperatures forecasted to perhaps make a run at the mid-30s Saturday afternoon.

Although it’s too early to nail down specific temperatures, an Arctic outbreak appears increasingly likely for next week, according to the National Weather Service’s Burlington, Vermont office, which serves the Tri-Lakes region. Highs may be limited to the single digits and lows ranging from between 10 and 20 degrees below zero.

“An arctic airmass and much colder temperatures look to move into the region behind this weekend system,” the office wrote as part of its forecast analysis Tuesday afternoon.

While below average even for the Adirondacks, none of this weather is especially out of the ordinary for this area’s winters, which tend to see these frigid air masses impact the region several times per year. Still however, cold spells can cause pipes to burst, especially in older homes without strong insulation, or even in newer homes with pipes near an external wall.

Rob Molinari is the branch manager for Hulbert Supply’s Tupper Lake location. Having been in the plumbing and heating profession for much of his life, he offered several tips on steps people can take to minimize pipes from bursting.

While having ample insulation and locating pipes away from exterior walls are always preferable, Molinari said he understands, especially with older houses, that it is not always possible, and people have to often play the hand that they are dealt.

He said that knowing the property’s history is important, and should help to inform how people respond to upcoming cold spells.

“It all depends on your past experience with your freezes,” he said. “If it’s only happened to you once or twice and you’ve lived in the home for 30 years or so, that might just be a small drip situation. But, if it happens to you all the time — meaning you have no insulation or your pipes are located along an exterior wall — then you might want to increase the velocity of the drip to a small steady stream. It all just depends.”

Even though extra water may run up utility bills slightly, Molinari said that as long as the water is just running at a drip or small stream, the extra cost pales in comparison to the expenses associated with the burst pipe.

“If you’re on village water, it’s maybe a couple of bucks,” he said. “If you’re out in the country and it’s on a well, maybe a couple of cents in electricity. … Just to have a plumber show up at your house in an emergency is going to be a $150 to $200 call-out fee, plus maybe $200 to $300 in costs, so it could be $500 to fix a small-burst pipe.”

While $500 is the typical cost of a modest burst, larger bursts or those that happen in more inaccessible segments of piping can easily run in the thousands, a cost that is often paid out-of-pocket.

“It’s a lot less expensive to go for a couple of extra bucks in water use than it is to, one, have the pipes burst and have a potential flood situation if you’re not home,” Molinari said. “Or, two, just to have somebody else come in and now repair burst pipes, especially if it’s all copper.”

Molinari said another preventative measure is to leave cupboard and cabinet doors open near pipes, especially under sinks and in bathrooms. He said that allows warmer air to circulate around the pipes that would otherwise be blocked, leading those spaces to run considerably colder than the rest of the room, especially if they are near an exterior wall.

Molinari said a practical tip for the North Country, especially for houses with older foundations is to naturally insulate them by shoveling snow against the house. He said this helps to prevent wind from pushing the cold air through the foundation, allowing it to permeate.

“The wind is the biggest thing,” he said.

For homeowners who might be away from the house for some time, Molinari said the temperature people choose to lower their thermostat to again depends on the antecedent insulation quality of the structure. He said that thermostats connected to Wi-Fi, which allow people to see and control their home’s temperature remotely from their phones, have grown in popularity significantly.

“You can get a Wi-Fi thermostat that links to your phone for $100,” he said. “You can get alerts if your heat goes out. For just $100 to have that go right to your phone, it’s sort of a low-cost insurance.”

Lake Placid Volunteer Fire Department Chief Mike St. Louis added that it doesn’t take long for problems to appear on a cold day if one isn’t careful.

“Even if you leave your garage door open for a little bit, it doesn’t take long for the cold to get in there,” he said.

Molinari noted the devices are easy to work with, even for people less technologically adept.

“It’s not very hard, you’re only hooking up a couple of wires and then interfacing it with your Wi-Fi,” he said.

For more tips and tricks to keep pipes from bursting, visit tinyurl.com/yh75fy5p.

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