Why do water pipes crack during winter?

Answer 1

To prevent this from happenining you must close the supply valve to the pipe you are perserving for the cold winter days, then open all the release valves and allow the water to drain. Last but not least close the all release valves (faucets etc....)

Answer 2

Water Crack Pipe

Answer 3

This is more of a chemistry question. The water running through pipes in winter usually freezes and becomes ice. The pipes are usually metals which are good conductors and help the water freeze When water freezes, it expands and becomes ice. Due to the expansion from within the pipes, they crack in winter. This is not the case in tropical regions.

Answer 4

Many of the answers here refer to freezing water in pipes. Water does expand when freezing and can crack a pipe.

In the winter when the heat comes on and water pipes to radiators or baseboard heating expands on heating you hear sounds which really are not cracking but sound like it.

Expansion seems to be the answer in both cases.

Answer 5

Unlike other substances, water has a special property that it begin to expand if its temperature is decreased from 4 deg. Celsius. Thus in winter, when the temperature falls below 4 degree Celsius, the water inside the pipes starts to expands (or increase in volume) and they exerts pressure on pipe. When the temperature continues to falls down, the pressure goes to such an extent that the pipes cracks.

Answer 6

The water inside them freezes and then expands with enough force to crack the pipe

Answer 7

this is really a chemistry question but the answer is basically like most people are saying its cause water freezes and expands and pushes on the pipes and makes them burst.
but this only happens with water pipes because water is different then most other common substances. water is unique because it undergoes a process call hydrogen bonding when its energy level is lower. This process forms a crystaline structure in the water causing it to have a lower density and take up more space. this hydrogen bonding is quite strong and has the power to break pipes.

Answer 8

When water freezes below 4 degrees centigrade(39.2 degrees Fahrenheit, it expand. In winter the water freezes below the above temperature and it expands.This expansion causes water pipes to crack during winter.

Answer 9

in cold countries, in winter the water pipes contracts due to the cold weather. the water in the pipes also freeze. now ice formed has lesser density than water but its volume increases.due to the increase in volume of the ice and contraction of pipe the pipes crack down and causes many big explosions.

Answer 10

Water in the pipes freeze, like water usually does in weather below 0. When the water freezes it expandes and well you can just guess the rest! Right?