During the recent cold snap I had my plastic water pipe in my attic freeze. I turned the water off. When I turned the water back after things warmed up, on I found 2 places leaking water.

Question: Do I just need to replace the pipe where it is leaking OR do I replace ALL the plastic piping in the entire attic?

Did the freeze damage the pipe that was not originally leaking or make it weaker in any way?

Thanks,

Mickel

Freeze, can have profound affects/effects on plastic pipe. Freeze hydralics can cause the freezing waters to expand and test the physical boundries. Sometimes the results can be seen without looking. Sometimes, the results are not apparent. Much depends on how much water was in the pipes as they began to freeze. Air pockets in the line will allow the water to expand without causing damage. Inspect well or replace the piping.

Best Wishes

The first question to answer is "what kind of plastic pipe is it?"

why is there pressured water lines in your attic? Is this considered a conditioned (heated) space?

That is the most common place for plumbers to run plastic water lines, and the attic is seldom a "conditioned space", other than from extraneous heat rising from the living space through the insulation.

And when you say plastic water lines your not talking venting?

We do NOT "vent" water lines.

sorry hj. a do know you have a lot of wisdom and do see sound advice in what you say. And im not trying to get into a what is done here vs there... but there is no way water lines in this region are ever ran into an attic... it is not common if it is done at all. That Im guessing different climate zones allow for different tolerrances, I was not familiar with the practice of running water lines through an attic. I guess my next humble question would be.. if the water supply comes under the footing I imagine that water lines in the attic are going up...then back down to hit what they supply...??

in warmer climates water lines are often ran into the attic then back down to the fixtures. it is the cheapest and easiest way to re-route lines leaking under a slab on grade foundation. when pex was first introduced in my area they didn't allow it under the foundation so we brought the main line into the house close to an exterior wall then ran all the lines over head and on a single story house that meant in the attic and then some smart a-- figured out putting the water heater there would give more "living" space

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