Frozen Pipes

Frozen Pipes: What to Do and When

When cold weather approaches there is always the possibility of the pipes in your house freezing. This is bad for a number of reasons, especially if the pipes end up bursting. This happens because when water freezes, it expands, resulting in pressure on the pipe that is carrying it. Below we’re going to give you some tips to prevent your pipes from freezing in the first place!

Frozen Pipe Prevention

One of the first things to check is to make sure that your pipes are properly insulated. You should look in areas that aren’t heated: a garage, crawl spaces, basement, or attic. By properly insulating pipes you severely lower the risk of them becoming frozen in cold weather.

Make sure to drain any swimming pool or water sprinkler water from the lines as instructed by a provider. Remove and drain all hoses outside, while leaving the outside valve open for any water to come out.

Garage doors should be kept closed during the cold weather. A faucet can also be kept dripping cold water. The small movement in the pipes can help them not freeze as the temperature drops.

If The Pipes Are Frozen

The first step you’ll want to take is to make sure the faucets are open. As the pipes unfreeze the water will start flowing and slowly melt the rest of the ice. After the faucets are open you’ll want to start applying heat to the pipes that are most likely frozen. This can be done with a hair dryer, heating pad, or portable space heater. Applying hot wet towels can also help melt the frozen pipes.

If you have trouble preparing for the weather, finding the frozen pipe, or have difficulty getting the pipes unfrozen be sure to call us today.

Sources:
Red Cross. < https://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/winter-storm/preventing-thawing-frozen-pipes>