Ice, Ice(Guard) Baby
The Holidays are fast approaching and you probably have a lot on your mind: Where can I find a gluten-free stuffing recipe? What toys will I get the kids? Do my in-laws have to stay for Christmas and New Year’s? We get it, you have a lot on your plate, and I’m sure the last thing you want to deal with this is winter is a flooded basement.
While many think water can only enter the basement in wet seasons, this is just as big of a reality in the winter. Living in Michigan, we’re definitely not strangers to the snow and the cold, and while we crank the heat in the winter to prevent our pipes inside from freezing, we may forget about the ones outside. Freezing discharge lines can be a major hazard to the health of your basement.
The sump pump in your basement is responsible for rerouting any water out of the space and away from the house through a pipe. This plastic pipe is a little under 4cm in diameter, and either runs along the ground or is buried in a trench. The problem is that when it snows, the outlet of this pipe becomes filled with snow and water. Once the water fills the inside of the pipe, it isn't able to escape because ice builds up around the outlet. The pipe then becomes filled with water, and as the temperature dwindles, it freezes. Now when the sump pump runs, water can’t escape and it backs up, ejecting the water in your basement. Just what you want to wake up to on a cold winter morning!
However, since Ayers is in the business of spreading holiday cheer, they have a solution for frozen discharge lines. We offer a specially engineered fitting to cover the outside pipe: IceGuard. The unique feature of this fitting are the holes that eject any water away from the wall if the pipe ever freezes. These perforations in the plastic allow water to escape even if the pipe is buried under snow and ice. When the pipe thaws, the water will resume its normal course, and still no water will escape from IceGuard. The best part about this system? It’s automatic, so it’s completely maintenance free.
IceGuard is the best solution for combating frozen discharge lines and ensuring your basement is dry this winter. And yes, you have permission to add it to your Christmas list.
