How to Prevent Pipes From Freezing

Many home and business owners have experienced a broken pipe as a result of a frozen pipe. Water damage from a frozen pipe is one of the most common causes of insurance claims. As temperatures plummet, water in pipes that are even slightly exposed to the elements can freeze. Water has a unique property in that it as it freezes it expands. This expansion can crack or split a water line or cause the joints in the pipes to break loose. When the water lines later thaw, you could be facing a massive amount of damage.

Preventing Frozen Pipes

1. Keep garage doors closed, especially if there are water lines in, near, or above garage walls and ceilings.
2. On cold winter days, open kitchen and bathroom cabinet and vanity doors and/or drawers to allow the warm air in the room to circulate around the plumbing lines.
3. If the weather outside is expected to reach extremely low temperatures, allow faucets drip slowly. Even a trickle or small flow of water helps prevent the water in the pipes from freezing.
4. Never lower your thermostat at night or when leaving the house during colder months. You may be warm and cozy covered with sheets and blankets, or think you are saving on heating costs when nobody’s home, but you are putting your plumbing at a risk of freezing by doing so.
5. If you leave for the weekend or on an extended vacation, leave the thermostat set as if you were home. A unexpected or sudden dip in temperature or a drop caused by wind chill won’t cause you to come back home to a disaster.

What to Do if Your Plumbing Has Frozen

Expose the pipe and put a space heater near it. This works when you know where the frozen pipe is. If it is under a sink, a frozen pipe can be thawed in this way. However it is important to open the faucet on so that as the pipe begins to thaw, the water can flow.

Heat up the room where thee frozen pipe is. You can use a space heater to add warmth to the room if it is not too large of a room. Heating up the room will eventually heat up the pipe. There is no guarantee that this will work and it will take a long time to thaw the pipe.

If the pipe is exposed, wrap the pipe with an electrical heat tape. Again this may work but it will take time.

Call a plumber. They have equipment that will electrically charge the pipe to warm it up. Always use a professional for this, as there is a possibility of damage if not done correctly.

What You Do Not Want To Do

Don’t ignore it. The pipe will not thaw by ignoring it. It will only freeze more, than eventually burst. If you are extremely lucky, it will only remain frozen until the outside temperature rises to well above freezing for an extended period of time and then it will thaw.

Never use a torch. This can cause the water to heat up too fast, causing the pipe to expand, and then burst. There is also the possibility of starting a fire.

Too Late! My Home Has Water Damage From a Frozen Pipe

If the unexpected happens, call Water Mold Fire Restoration at 800-905-0277. A live representative, experienced in water damage restoration, will answer your call 24/7, even on holidays. One of our emergency restoration teams can be on their way to your home in one hour or less. Or if you would prefer to contact us via email, do so at help@watermoldfire.net. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have.