What to Do If My Pipes are Frozen

What to Do If My Pipes are Frozen

Homeownership can become overwhelming with maintenance tasks. Those tasks can become costly if preventative measures aren’t taken seriously. There are plenty of positives about owning a home, but there are also several issues that may cause havoc down the road.

One big issue you can face as a homeowner is frozen pipes due to inclement weather. Pipes freeze when the temperature drops below freezing. Based on your geographical location, there are verifying degrees of insulation. A quick way to find the pipe that is frozen is to locate the pipe where there is a lack of water flow in your faucet. So, what do you do if your pipes freeze?

Act Fast

If you decide to unfreeze your pipes yourself, act promptly to avoid a larger problem. You can start by keeping your faucet at a drip to help move water through the frozen pipe. Keep your faucet on a drip prior to the cold front approaching if you are expecting below freezing temperatures. You have a few options for remedying this situation, but they all include channeling heat to the pipe you have identified as frozen. Start with a portable heater or a hairdryer. Make sure that the portable heater is facing away from any flammable materials. As for the hairdryer, be sure to keep it oscillating. You can also use an electric heating pad by wrapping it around the pipe. However, this should not be left unattended. If you are not comfortable with any of these options, you can start with soaking a towel in hot water and wrapping it around the pipe. When the towel cools, swap it out for a new hot towel. If you happen to have an infrared lamp stashed away, you can use that as well.

Thawing Your Pipes

If you do not want to have to do any of these things, you can work on preventing frozen pipes. Start by insulating water pipes on exterior walls. This would include basements and crawl spaces. As previously mentioned, you can also leave your faucet on a drip when expecting a freeze. Additionally, you can drain exterior water lines to prevent pressure from building up. You may also see a benefit from using space heaters near uninsulated areas during extreme colds that could result in frozen pipes. You may be tempted to let your pipes thaw on their own, but that can be a risk all on its own. When the ice begins to melt, water can get trapped between the faucet and the ice causing increased pressure within the pipe. This increased pressure can result in these frozen pipes bursting.

Preventing frozen pipes is possible with preventative measures and proper care. However, if you find your pipes have frozen, we can help you find solutions. Contact ASAP Plumbing today at 228-865-2727 or visit www.plumbinggulfportms.com and request a free estimate! We can handle all your plumbing needs including installation, repair and full water heater replacement.