Learn the right steps to take if your plumbing pipes are frozen.
In the winter months, homeowners face a number of issues. From snow to cold temperatures, the home is affected in a variety of ways. Plumbing systems in the home can be significantly affected by the colder temperatures. Plumbing pipes have a tendency to freeze in very cold weather, which can lead to a burst pipe in the home. This can be a big problem and cause major damage to the home as well as your plumbing system. Knowing how to react and what to do in the case of a plumbing disaster will help you to save time as well as money on repairs and damage.
How to Tell if Your Pipes are Frozen
You will be able to tell that you have frozen pipes in a number of ways. For many homeowners, the plumbing runs through the walls of the home. If you begin to see wet spots or water leakage coming from baseboards then you have a problem. Water can leak from basically anywhere in the home that is near the busted pipe. Once you see that you have a leak in the home, turn the water off. It is likely that the pipe holding the water became frozen and burst open. The water will then thaw and begin to leak into the home wherever the break is. You will need to cut off the water to stop the flow so that no more water can affect the space. To do this, you will need to know where the water shut off valve is. The main water shut off valve is commonly located near the water meter. Turn the valve to shut the water off. The toilet supply also has a water shut off valve. This valve can be used when working on the toilet and can be found near the wall behind the tank.
When you move into your home, it is important to locate where the water shut off valve is and how it works. You need to know this location so that you can turn the water off when you need to, especially in an emergency. The main valve in a home should be turned off and on every 6 months.
Contact Professional Assistance
Once you have found that a water pipe has burst, contact a plumbing professional, such as our team at Enercare, to assist you with repairing the broken pipe. Our experts can handle this issue quickly and effectively to ensure that your home is not damaged further due to water leakage. The pipe will be repaired and ready to function properly, restoring water usage in the home.
How to Prevent Frozen Pipes
There are many ways for homeowners to prevent pipes from freezing in the home. To begin, pay attention to the colder weather. Water starts changing from a liquid to a solid at +4.11 C degrees (39.4 F degrees) so it does not have to be below freezing to cause damage. Consider the following preventative measures:
- Turn your outside hose faucets off in the home at the isolation valves;
- Open the hose faucets outside to let the remaining water leak out and leave them open for the winter;
- Make sure all hoses are disconnected from the hose faucets, as the remaining water will freeze and expand back into the home and can cause your pipes to burst;
- If you have irrigation systems (automatic sprinkler system), make sure the lines are blown out by an irrigation professional;
- Frost-free hose faucets should also be winterized the same as regular hose faucets;
- Make sure that exposed pipes in vulnerable spots such as garages and outside walls stay above freezing;
- Keep garage doors shut or install pipe insulation in those areas from cold breezes;
- If you have a sump pump, it’s a good idea to check the working order because they work harder in the winter months with the snow runoff.
When you have a problem with your plumbing system, never hesitate to contact Enercare. From burst plumbing pipes to faucet repairs, drain snaking, hot water outages and more, Enercare technicians can fix the problem. Call today for a review of your plumbing system or if you have an issue in your home. Our service includes upfront pricing, no overtime charges, and guaranteed parts.
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