Jump to content

Frozen pipes don't break at the point where the ice is formed. Why not?


amoda

Recommended Posts

I was just wondering due to the fact of the amazing wheather we had (-35celecius) and then a snow storm why frozen pipes don't break at the point where the ice is formed. Also any1 have any tips for making sure that the oil tank outside our house dosent get its pipe broken? Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The oil has a different freezing point, I don't know what. You might want to check. I would suggest (if necessary) to have some way for pressure to get out. Perhaps you could make a chamber up above the pipe to let the oil go up when the pressure is high. That is, unless the oil is under pressure.

They don't break right where the ice is is because that is not the weakest point. The pressure builds until the weak point breaks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Water is a very very odd substance. Because of the way it bonds, it expands on freezing, unlike everything else, which contracts.

 

It's the reason that the seas are liquid, and the land is solid. If water had the same properties of, well, anything else, the seas would be solid.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OIC, that certainly makes more sense.

 

Ignore me mossoi ;)

 

 

Do you remember that "Focus" pop science magazine? I had a letter published in that when I was 13 or something. It was "why does water expand when it freezes?", and they put a picture of an iceberg next to the question.

 

:proud:

 

 

God how I wish I was drunk right now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i was also referring to any kind of pipe. A drain pipe perhaps or anythings else. i'll tell you my position so it might get easier to explain. I was walking around my neighborhood and there is a house that has a small pipe coming out of the front side of the house to the back (no idea whats it for) and i noticed that it had alot of ice built on it and that it had cracked. But the points that it had cracked in aren't the places where most of the ice is built up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

amoda said in post # :

i was also referring to any kind of pipe. A drain pipe perhaps or anythings else. i'll tell you my position so it might get easier to explain. I was walking around my neighborhood and there is a house that has a small pipe coming out of the front side of the house to the back (no idea whats it for) and i noticed that it had alot of ice built on it and that it had cracked. But the points that it had cracked in aren't the places where most of the ice is built up.

 

Most exterior ice will be because of frozen dew, or what have you. The freezing that damages in inside the pipe.

 

 

Probably.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.