11
Mar

Smart Features Prevent Frozen Pipes

Anyone living in where snow falls and temperatures drop knows the fear of frozen pipes. With 37% of bursts happening in the basement, you might not know until its too late to save your belongings, or worse, your home. Luckily, smart home features go beyond A/V and home theaters. The following practical applications can save your property and sanity from the dreaded frozen pipe disaster.

Temperature Sensor Alone

If you grew up in a colder climate, you know the drill; drip water from a few faucets to keep the water flowing and from freezing. This traditional solution can waste water unnecessarily if pipe temperatures aren’t actually at risk of freezing. With a simple temperature sensor however, you can be notified for exactly when this is required. The downside? You still need to manually take action upon being notified. Read on for lower maintenance solutions.

External Heating Methods

This is a great retrofit solution for those looking to maintain a higher plumbing temperature. A mechanism with a built-in thermometer not only detects dropping temperatures, it also heats the pipe externally. Combine this with a home automation system and your notifications turn from “time to drip the faucet” to “frozen temperatures detected, heating element activated”. Although this option only heats the pipe externally, which is not the most efficient option when considering the water directly.

Pipe Heating Cable with Thermostat

Inline Heating

Similar to the heat tape, but applied internally, an inline heating cable gets right to the source. The best “out of sight, out of mind” option; the system detects near-freezing temperatures and activates the cable automatically. Only catch here is that you need to gain access to the inside of your pipes. Fortunately, we know someone you can call!

Inside-the-Pipe Potable Water Heating Cable

Want to prevent frozen pipes in your home? Reach out for a complementary consultation!