Welcome to brain Stuff, a production of I Heart Radio, Hey brain Stuff Lauren Vogel bamb here. How much value does one dripping faucet have a lot if it keeps your homes water pipes from bursting during frigid weather. Burst pipes are one of the most common causes of property damage during about of freezing temperatures, with homeowner claims averaging
more than ten thousand dollars. The cost of a water leak from frozen pipes is even higher for business owners, where claims average about twenty seven thousand dollars but can occasionally reach into the millions. But can one dripping faucet really save the day? It can if it's the right one. The dripping faucet should be as far away from the water source as possible so that the water will flow
through the entire length of the system. If you aren't sure where the incoming water source is located, setting any faucet to drip will help. A common misconception is that drip prevents water from freezing because it stays in motion when it's running through the pipes. Although this does help, the truth is that at extreme temperatures, water can freeze
even while it's flowing. The real reason that a dripping faucet can help prevent pipes from bursting is that the constant drip relieves the pressure that can build up in the pipes between the ice blockage and the faucet, and thus helps to prevent them from bursting when the pipes begin to thaw. Pipe joints are especially vulnerable. The water, which is very unusual in that it expands as it freezes, can stress metal or plastic pipes at almost any point.
The pipes become damaged during the freeze, but don't begin to wreak havoc until they thaw. The combined pressure of the expanding and shrinking ice blockage and the increasing water pressure behind it can cause pipes to leak or burst. This is why you'll always want to leave a faucet on if a pipe is frozen completely, even if there's not an of water flow for a drip. When that ice thaws, the water needs somewhere to go in order
to relieve that pent up pressure. When a cold snap hovers around or below twenty degrees fahrenheit that's negative six celsius, it's time to let at least one faucet drip. Pay close attention to water pipes that are in attics, garages, basements, or crawl spaces, because temperatures in these unheated interior spaces will be closer to outdoor temperatures. Likewise, you'll want to keep an eye on pipes that run along exterior walls
and make sure they have additional insulation. Also, when faucets are located in a base cabinet in a kitchen or bathroom, open the cabinet doors to allow the home's warmer air to reach the pipes. This is especially important if the sink is located along an exterior wall. It's also a good idea to know where the main shut off valve is in your home in case a pipe does burst or leak. Usually, this main shut valve is located where the main water line enters the house. However, it could
be located near the exterior water meter. If you know how to quickly shut off this water source, it could turn a huge flooding disaster into a relatively minor inconvenience. Also, should you choose to escape to warmer climbs during the wintry months, don't forget to turn off the water main before you head out. Today's episode was written by Laura L. Dove and produced by Tyler Clang. For more on this and lots of other flowing topics, visit House to forks
dot com. Brain Stuff is production of iHeart Radio or more podcasts to my heart Radio, visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.