Frozen Pipes

Frozen pipes have all the potential to become disastrous.  When water in a pipe freezes it expands and this can cause the pipe to split open or burst. Just moments of water running out of a burst pipe can cost you thousands of dollars in damages.  Pipes that are most vulnerable to freezing are ones that are exposed to the extreme cold and are not well insulated.  This includes outdoor pipes, water sprinkler lines, and pipes that are in the basement or garage. The best solution is to do everything possible to prevent any pipes from freezing.  The following are some ways to prevent freezing pipes:

• Ensure any outdoor pipes are well insulated

• Turn off the water to taps in the yard and garage and drain the remaining water out

• Keep your thermostat set at the same temperature, even throughout the night

• Add insulation to basements, attics, crawl spaces

• Let cold water trickle out of taps where pipes are susceptible to freezing in extreme cold spells

• Open doors of cabinets, especially where sinks are on an exterior wall. This allows warmer water to circulate around pipes.

How to tell you have a frozen pipe?

• No running water or very little

• Unusual sounds from pipes when flushing a toilet or using the sink etc.

• Bad odor from drain or faucets

• Frost visible on pipes

Frozen pipes are one of the leading insurance claims for homeowners in the winter months.  It is recommended to give us a call before trying to handle them yourself.  A DIY fail in this case can lead to a very large sum of money in damages.  Before thawing out your pipes our professional plumbers can give your pipes an inspection to see if there is any splitting that has occurred.  You biggest worry with frozen pipes is thawing them out prior to realizing they are damaged or having them burst due to an improper method of defrosting.  Letting the professionals handle it can ensure that you won’t be dealing with much larger problems.