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Chapter 11: Problem 30

Outdoor water pipes have to be drained or insulated in winter in a cold climate. Why?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Outdoor water pipes in cold climates need to be either drained or insulated during winter to prevent them from bursting due to the expansion of water when it freezes.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the Properties of Water

In order to solve this problem, there should be an understanding of how water behaves under freezing conditions. Contrary to most substances, water expands when it freezes. This expansion causes an increase in volume and a decrease in density, meaning ice will be less dense than the water it formed from and will therefore float.
02

The Consequences of Water Expansion

Now, let's consider this property in the context of a pipe. If water in the pipe freezes and there's no room for expansion, the pressure exerted by the expansion can cause the pipe to crack or even burst. This is simply due to the significant increase in volume as the water changes to ice.
03

The Need for Draining or Insulating Pipes

The consequences mentioned in Step 2 explain why pipes need to be either drained or insulated. By draining the pipes, there will be no water to freeze and hence no risk of the pipe bursting. Insulating the pipes, on the other hand, prevents the water inside from reaching freezing temperatures, thus preventing the formation of ice in the first place.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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