Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) Practice Test

Freeze plugs are designed to allow which action as water expands during freezing?

1. Expand

2. Drain

3. Freeze

4. Solidify

The correct answer is: Drain

Freeze plugs are designed to allow drainage as water expands during freezing. When water freezes, it expands, and this expansion can cause significant pressure buildup in a closed system, such as an engine. If there are no mechanisms to relieve this pressure, it could lead to damage or failure of the system. Freeze plugs, also known as expansion plugs or core plugs, are strategically placed in various parts of the engine or cooling systems. They serve to allow any excess water that may freeze and expand to drain out, preventing potential damage. When the temperature drops and water freezes, the freeze plugs will pop out to relieve the pressure, allowing the water to escape rather than letting the vessel containing the water, like a radiator or engine block, be compromised due to excess pressure. Thus, the primary function of freeze plugs is to ensure proper drainage to protect the integrity of the system during freezing conditions.