As winter approaches, you may be thinking about how to best prepare your home for the season. Just like the rest of your plumbing, your water treatment system needs to be winterized. Below, we break down how freezing temperatures can impact your water treatment system and what you can do to prevent damage to it during these chilling times.
Potential Issues
Although cool water is typically recommended for water filters as it allows for more efficient filtration, freezing temperatures within your system can cause a variety of issues. Frozen water in your pipes creates blockages, reducing water pressure. As water gets colder, it becomes thicker, or more viscous. In RO systems, this can decrease output as the dense water struggles to pass through the membrane. Ice crystals can form within the filter media creating cracks and holes within the filter, interrupting the clean water flow you’re used to. In extreme cases, freezing water can warp the plastic components in your system or expand and break pieces of equipment, resulting in costly repairs and replacements.
Prevention Methods
There are a few options when it comes to winterizing your water treatment system:
- Insulate all pipes with pipe insulation. If you take a look at your water treatment system, you’ll likely see a multitude of valves and fittings. The easiest way to wrap this awkward setup is to use blankets and towels. Though you can try to wrap the remaining equipment in insulation, depending on the location and size of your system, this can prove to be quite tricky. And while insulation can help, if the temperatures drop too low, no amount will prevent water inside the equipment or pipes from freezing. Any pipes exposed to the outside elements should be insulated, but inside equipment can be taken care of more effectively using other methods.
- Use lamps for heat. The radiant heat from heat lamps or even incandescent bulbs can prevent freezing. Though this is a minor preventative measure, because of the complex form of water treatment equipment, using lamps is an easier way to keep your system from freezing. It’s important to note that this method should only be considered when temperatures hover around freezing–once it drops much further than that, it won’t be enough to be effective.
- Keep your water running. This is the only true way to prevent freezing. Running water can prevent pipes from bursting by stopping the build up of pressure from the cold temperatures. Stagnant water also freezes faster, so a constant flow will prevent this outcome. Generally, you’ll want to run water at the furthest plumbing outputs, typically your outdoor hose bibbs. You may also consider running inside faucets during a freeze if your home is built on a pier and beam foundation. The amount of water you allow to drip is based on the temperature and amount of exposure. Any exposed faucets are more prone to freezing, so they require a greater stream of water. As temperatures drop, the amount of water flow should increase. For example, a consistent drip should be all it takes when temperatures are in the 30’s, but you’ll need a more steady steam for freezing prevention if it’s below 20℉ outside. Fortunately, with the technology we have available, there’s a tool that can handle this flow control for you so you don’t have to brave the cold as temperatures fluctuate. The Freeze Miser is a mechanical device that, once screwed onto your hose bibbs, can control the flow rate of water based on the temperature. Their reliability and reasonable price point have made them highly requested by our customers.
In Conclusion
Like any other plumbing in your home, your water treatment system needs proper care to stay in top condition. Winterizing your equipment and taking preventive steps to protect pipes from freezing before temperatures drop is essential for avoiding costly repairs and ensuring consistent performance. Looking to winterize your home before the holidays? Give us a call at 210-658-0111 or make an appointment now.
