Fire Sprinkler Systems and Severe Cold Weather Warning for Residential Homes

As temperatures begin to become frigid, it is important to keep your house safe by ensuring that the pipes in your house don’t burst. According to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, the most common cause of property damage during cold weather are burst pipes, potentially costing thousands of dollars in water damage to your home. There are simple steps you can take to keep your property safe in winter. 
It is important to identify which pipes are most at risk for damage. Unheated interior spaces like attics, garages and basement pipes are the most important to check, but the pipes that are running through cabinets or exterior walls can also pose a danger to freezing. Applying pipe insulation to those pipes that are at most risk is an excellent way to prevent burst pipes.

The temperature alert threshold for uninsulated pipes running through an uninsulated space is 20 degrees Fahrenheit. In order to keep your space safe, remember to follow these steps.

• Keep garage doors closed, this will conserve heat, especially if there are water pipes running through the garage.
• Open all the kitchen and bathroom doors so that warmer air can circulate around the plumbing. 
• Let cold water drip from all faucets that are connected to exposed pipes. This running water will help to keep pipes from freezing.
• Keep your thermostat set to the same temperature during the day and night during frigid days. 
• If you are planning to be away from your home during cold weather, set your thermostat to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit during frigid days. 
• It is important to think about the long term protection of your home - adding insulation to your basement, attic and crawl space will maintain a higher temperatures in those areas and will help in prevention of burst pipes.

Ensuring that your water pipes don’t freeze and burst is very important, but sometimes it could be too late. If you turn on your faucet and only a trickle of water comes out, that could be because of a frozen pipe. If you think your pipes are already frozen, thawing them safely is important. If the pipe has already burst, the thawed water will flood your home. If the pipe is frozen, begin by turning off the water at the main shutoff valve. These are typically near the water meter or in the basement where the water line enters the home. 

If you are sure that the pipe did not burst, follow these steps to safely thaw frozen pipes in your home.

• Turn on the faucet to gently let the water run. The cold water will help to thaw the frozen section of the pipe. 
• Wrap pipes in towels soaked in hot water. Never use portable space heater in close proximity to flammable materials. Also, never use open flame devices such as a blowtorches, kerosene, propane heaters or a charcoal stoves. This could damage the pipe but could also start a fire in your home. 
• Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. Check all pipes to make sure they are all properly working. 
• Call a professional if you are unable to locate the frozen pipe or if you cannot thaw the pipe yourself. 

Frozen fire sprinkler systems in residential homes can be just as damaging as a fire or a burst water pipe. It is important to understand how to maintain your sprinkler system so that there is no damage during the cold. Wet fire sprinkler systems are filled with water and spray the water once the device detects the heat of the fire. The most common cause of wet sprinkler system freezing is when the heating of your building is turned off. It is important to keep your residential sprinkler system in top working condition so that in case of an emergency, it works properly. 

The areas of most concern for frozen sprinkler systems are entryways, attics, skylights, floors and entryways where the temperatures drop to below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. In order to prevent damage, it is important to have annual servicing of your heating system and an inspection of the insulation, ensuring that it remains intact and that there are no leaks or blocked ventilation openings in the residence. 

Should you have questions or concerns about your fire sprinkler system, please contact the Mount Prospect Fire Prevention Bureau at (847) 818-5253.

Should a frozen fire sprinkler pipe break occur, please dial 911 for an immediate response.