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Call The Gentleman Pros Now!
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Worried that your pipes are frozen? Low pressure could be an indication.
Read on to learn what to do if your pipes are frozen, how to thaw frozen pipes and how to prevent pipes from freezing.
The biggest sign that your pipes are frozen is that you have no water or very little pressure. If you have very little pressure, keep your tap open. If there is a little water getting through, this will help to thaw the line and restore flow.
Where the pipe is located will determine the plan of action to thaw a pipe.
Step one is to open the tap that is connected to the frozen line. If it starts to trickle, let it keep going. That is a sign it is starting to thaw.
If only one area in the home has a frozen pipe, running water in all other areas of the home may be enough to thaw it out. Moving water can help thaw ice faster than stagnant water. Moving water also creates water pressure to help the melting process.
Radiant heat from a warm hot water pipe is another way to help thaw a frozen pipe. For example, running hot water through a hot water line or near a frozen water line could help radiate heat towards the frozen pipe.
Find out why the pipe is freezing. Often pipes freeze because of a cold draft from the outside winter air. Find the source of the colder air and plug it off. In a short amount of time, the water temperature will be restored.
This can be really effective in large spaces where you can get access to the frozen pipe. Be mindful that water and electricity are a bad combination. Be mindful that as the water thaws, it doesn’t drip
A can be an effective and safe way to thaw a frozen pipe, especially if the pipe is inside in an area where the heat from a blow dryer would be enough. If the pipe is outside, or behind a wall it may not provide enough heat.
If the frozen pipe is exposed to the elements, heat tape is the way to go. Heat tape is often ideal for mobile homes, crawl spaces, outdoor plumbing, or older homes with drafty walls. Electric heat tape isn’t ideal to use on damaged or leaking pipes, plastic pipes that are not rated for electric tape (ask your plumber), or pipes inside walls or ceilings.
Three reasons to avoid open flames.
When pipes freeze in the walls or ceiling, address why they are freezing.
Some common causes include:
Typically, warm air circulation is the quickest way to thaw out a pipe.
You may have to cut into the wall or ceiling to blow air into the area with the frozen pipe. Cutting into the wall will also allow you to discover the extent of the problem.
If a frozen pipe bursts in your home, take the following steps:
The biggest thing to prevent freezing is to make sure there are no cold air drafts near pipes.
Be sure that pipes are not exposed to the elements. It is always important to keep the pipes above the freezing temperature.
Now is a good time!
If you have a frozen pipe, it is very likely that the pipe is damaged. Because water expands when it freezes, the pipe can expand and crack.
Most often, this can be fixed by thawing the pipes and then replacing the damaged area of the pipe.
A plumber can assess the extent of the damage and help identify other problem areas.
