Burst pipes can be a major setback for homes and businesses — especially during the colder months when freezing temperatures increase the risk level across much of the country. A ruptured pipe can mean extensive water damage, faulty plumbing, expensive repairs, and long-term disruption to daily operations. In short — it’s best avoided.
Learning how to prevent pipes from bursting should be a priority for any property owner. In this article, we’ll explore how to prevent pipes from bursting with a few proactive installations. Between modern sensor technology and around-the-clock environmental monitoring, your pipes — and everything around them — can stay safe throughout the year.
Why Do Pipes Burst?
Understanding why your pipes burst is the first step to understanding how to prevent them from bursting in the first place. The risk level is typically highest during the colder months when water inside the pipes can freeze. Freezing causes water to expand, which can warp the pipe and build up pressure, eventually leading to a rupture.
If left unaddressed, a burst pipe can cause flooding and significant water damage to the property around it. While traditional methods like dense insulation and dripping faucets can help to reduce the risk, they’re often not enough to prevent bursting alone. Environmental monitoring technology is generally a more reliable way to keep your pipes in check.
How to Prevent Pipes From Bursting: 3 Methods
1. Temperature Sensors to Monitor Pipe Conditions
More often than not, preventing pipes from bursting requires awareness of what’s going on inside your pipes. Fortunately, technology makes this kind of real-time visibility accessible. Temperature sensors allow you to keep tabs on how cold the water in your pipes is so you can take action when it’s nearing the danger zone (which is to say, near-freezing).
Temperature sensors can be placed strategically within walls where pipes tend to be most vulnerable. If the temperature drops below a certain threshold, the sensor will trigger an alert to notify you of the risks. This allows you to take action and adjust heating measures before experiencing a more serious problem.
2. Water Leak Sensors for Early Detection
When pipes do burst, it’s not always immediately obvious. To prevent serious water damage, you need to be made aware of the problem immediately. Water leak sensors notify you of any potential problems by detecting the presence of water where it isn’t supposed to be. Even the smallest leaks can be seen and addressed before they escalate into a larger issue.
Water leak sensors are best placed near groups of pipes, plumbing joints, or other areas prone to leaking — especially under sinks and near water heaters. If and when water is detected, you’ll be alerted so you can investigate the situation and cut off the water if necessary.
3. Smart Thermostats for Temperature Control
If sensor technology helps you notice a problem, building automation gives you the tools to address the problem before it causes damage. Burst prevention often requires real-time adjustments to internal temperatures. Homes and businesses are often at the greatest risk when owners are away, leaving no one to adjust the temperature.
Smart thermostats make managing the internal temperatures of your building easy. Unlike typical systems, these more advanced units can be programmed and adjusted remotely. If your sensors notify you of dangerous temperatures around a pipe, you need only open an app on your smartphone or tablet and adjust the temperature accordingly. It works even if you’re not home to fix the issue in person.
Protect Your Pipes With PEAK Alarm
Why leave the safety of your property to chance? Preventing your pipes from bursting doesn’t have to be a guessing game. With environmental monitoring technology from PEAK Alarm, you’ll have all the tools and information you need to save your home or business from the costly damages of broken pipes and sudden flooding.
Take matters into the safest hands — your own — with a professional installation from PEAK Alarm. We’ll assess your property to determine the optimal strategy and implement the best possible environmental monitoring system for you.
Protect what matters most to you. Contact PEAK Alarm today.
