Preemptive Measures for Freezing Water Pipelines

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How to Prevent Frozen Pipes and Water Main Breaks

As winter sets in with its harsh cold, one of the most common problems homeowners and municipalities face is frozen pipes. When water inside a pipe freezes, it can lead to serious issues like burst pipes and extensive damage. According to The Weather Channel, the real cause of pipe bursts isn’t the expansion of ice itself, but the pressure that builds up when the flow is completely blocked. This is especially true for smaller diameter pipes, which are more prone to clogging. With record-breaking temperatures this season, it's more important than ever to take action to protect your plumbing system.

Challenges in Wisconsin and Canada

Wisconsin has been hit hard by the cold, leading to a dramatic increase in water main breaks. In February alone, Milwaukee crews dealt with 305 main breaks—more than double the usual number for January. When the ground freezes to a depth of four feet, pipes buried at that level can freeze quickly. To address this, crews use steam or other specialized equipment to thaw blocked lateral lines. However, if the blockage occurs near the main under the street, excavation might be required, and repairs can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 12 hours, costing between several hundred to over $1,000. A simple way to prevent this is to let water trickle through faucets, which may slightly raise your water bill but can save you from major headaches.

Canada is also experiencing extreme cold, resulting in a surge of water main failures. In Regina, workers inspected 33 main breaks in a single day, while Saskatoon reported seven. This year, Regina has already seen 49 breaks by the 25th of February—well above the typical 41 for the month. Temperatures below -55°F have caused even new pipelines to fail, showing no signs of mercy. Even the Royal University Hospital had a pipe burst, causing nearly $10,000 in damages, including cleanup and repairs. While no procedures were canceled, the outpatient area had to be relocated, and infection control teams are monitoring the situation closely.

Proactive Solutions with Carbon Fiber

One effective way to prevent such incidents is through the use of carbon fiber reinforcement systems. HJ3 Composite Technologies offers the CarbonSeal solution, designed to strengthen pipes and prevent them from bursting due to ice blockages. This system meets ANSI/NSF-61 standards for potable water and provides long-term protection. Although there is an upfront cost to wrap pipes with CarbonSeal, it’s often 50–80% cheaper than the costs associated with repair and replacement after a break. It not only increases the structural strength of the pipe but also helps seal leaks and contain cracks before they become disasters.

Protect Your Water Infrastructure Today

If you're worried about the integrity of your water transmission lines and want to explore solutions like HJ3's CarbonSeal system, reach out to our team today. We can help you assess your needs and provide a tailored plan to keep your system running smoothly, even in the harshest conditions.

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Superfine Impact Mill

The grinder is composed of a moving disk and a gear ring. Through the high-speed rotation of a special shape of the moving disk, it is squeezed, collided and cut for many times, so as to achieve crushing. The material receives impact and shear between the high-speed rotating rotor and the stator of the toothed lining. The crushed material enters the grading area driven by the air flow. The qualified material is collected by the cyclone and dust collector, and the unqualified material is returned to the crushing area for crushing.