why do pipes burst

Hi folks, I would like to know why pipes burst? It happened to my friend. He didn't have any garden hose connected to his faucet outside. And he also told me that it didn't happen during winter. I would like to know so I can prevent it from happening when I build mine(the pipe for sprinkler system).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Sylvia Brown could probably better answer this question but since I'm her sidekick, I'll try. Pipes burst due to freezing and the vulnerability of the piping. Nothing is foolproof with the exception of galvanized or solid brass pipe when it comes to freezing.

When water freezes it has to expand; no two ways around it. The pipe or fitting will burst at it's weakest point like the weakest link in a chain.

Best advice is to PAY a sprinkler company to winterize and dewinterize your system every year by contract. That way if the piping breaks.....they have to fix it for not removing the water. Of course you have to build your system correctly so that it is possible to do a drain-down with no serious low spots that will not empty out.

pipe

Best advice is to PAY a sprinkler company to winterize and dewinterize your system every year by contract. That way if the piping breaks.....they have to fix it for not removing the water.

And when they say they drained it properly, but ground water seepage or a bad valve allowed water to enter the system, (both of which could happen as a normal matter), they will tell you what it will cost to fix it.