The Dangers of Frozen Pipes
Imagine it’s a cold winter day, and you can’t wait to come home from work and curl up with a hot cup of tea. You go to your kitchen, turn on the tap, and no water comes out of the faucet! Barring an issue with your local water system, you likely have frozen pipes. It is important to thaw the pipe quickly, before it bursts and causes catastrophic water damage to your ceiling, drywall, flooring and belongings.
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Once temperatures fall below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the water inside your pipes will freeze. Then the frozen water starts expanding. As it expands, the pressure causes your pipes to crack, eventually resulting in leaks.
How do Pipes freeze?
The four main dangers of frozen pipes are:
- Property Damage - Burst pipes result in water damage to part or your entire home, including damage to your belongings.
- Risk of Injury or Death - Frozen pipes can lead to flooding in your basement, which can put your family at risk of drowning. Flooding can also cause problems if water comes into contact with your home’s wiring. This could result in electrocution, house fires, electric shocks, and even death.
- Repair Costs - Emergency plumbing services can be costly as you have to pay for labour, materials, and possibly restoration of damaged flooring, drywall and replacing furniture and belongings.
- No Water Supply - You won’t have a water supply for several days until the plumbing is fixed.
What happens when Pipes freeze?
When temperatures drop, pipes contract and water freezes inside, blocking its normal flow and resulting in no water coming out of the faucets. When a pipe freezes, the expanding ice causes it to crack. If the ice keeps expanding and the crack is not fixed, the pipe bursts. Burst pipes can lead to incredibly costly repairs or a complete overhaul of your room(s).
One of the most highly suggested solutions is to install a leak detection system like Streamlabs. These types of automatic shut-off devices can shut off your main water line as well as sound off an alarm when it exceeds your set water use.
Frozen pipe can cause thousands of dollars of damage to your home. Call High Mark today for professional Pipe Repairs. We are your home of 5 Star Service!
Which pipes are more likely to freeze?
Pipes running through parts of your home that aren’t adequately insulated, such as a crawlspace, attic, or garage, are the areas where freezing is most likely to occur.
Keep attic windows and garage doors closed as much as possible during the winter months to help protect these pipes against cold air.
You may want to consider adding insulation in those rooms, providing an additional heat source or removing and reinstalling these pipes elsewhere in your home.
How can you thaw a frozen pipe?
One solution you can try is applying heat directly to the pipes using a hair dryer. Another remedy is applying hot towels.
Alternatively, you can warm up the surrounding area with space heaters or a heat lamp.
Never use a torch to heat pipes, as this can be a fire hazard, since pipes are often located near walls or joists . Some homeowners have burnt their house down and died.
Instead, follow these guidelines when your pipes freeze:
- Leave the faucet open. As you apply heat to the frozen pipe, and the ice starts to melt, water will start flowing and melting ice along the plumbing.
- If you have a burst pipe, shut off the main water supply and leave the faucet open until the repairs have been completed. Slowly apply heat, starting from the faucet and working your way toward the coldest part of the pipe. You can use a handheld hair dryer. Make sure you’re not standing in water to avoid electrocution!
- If your home floods, turn off the electricity as soon as possible to prevent electrical fires when water enters the low-level outlets.
If you can’t thaw the pipe, call a plumber who can pinpoint the problem and thaw it quickly.
How can you thaw a frozen pipe?
To prevent frozen pipes, you can run hot water through different parts of your plumbing in the winter, leave cabinet doors open to let warm air circulate around the pipes, and adding foam insulation to pipes.
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