If you live in an area that experiences below-freezing winter temperatures, you may have to deal with frozen pipes. This is an uncomfortable and inconvenient situation. Frozen pipes often occur in regions where outside temperatures reach 20 degrees or lower. To quickly get your water flowing again and prevent any damage you’ll need to carefully thaw the pipes.
Here are some steps for properly thawing your pipes and how to prevent the problem in the future.
How to Thaw Your Pipes
Frozen pipes are a plumbing problem that you can sometimes solve on your own, but if you can’t find the pipe, if it’s in a hard-to-reach area, or if you encounter any problems, you should call a professional plumber.
1. Shut off the water – Find the main water supply valve and turn it off.
2. Find the frozen pipe – It’s most likely in a basement, crawl space, exterior wall, or under a sink. You may see frost or ice on the outside of the pipe.
3. Open faucets – Turn on the faucets connected to the frozen pipe to relieve pressure.
4. Thaw the pipe – If the pipe is easily accessible, you can thaw it using a space heater, hair dryer, hot water bottles, or towels soaked in hot water. Never use an open flame. Apply heat until the water flows normally.
5. Check for leaks – After thawing the pipe, if you see any cracks or water leaking, call a professional plumber for repairs immediately.
Frozen pipes can burst because water expands when it freezes putting pressure on the pipes. That pressure can cause small cracks and leaks or it can cause the pipe to burst, flooding your home with water. If a pipe does burst, call an experienced plumber, like Ace Plumbing, to quickly address the problem and prevent further damage.
How to Prevent Frozen Pipes
The best way to avoid the hassle of frozen pipes is to take steps to prevent them from freezing in the first place.
● Seal cracks in exterior walls – Cracks, including those around tv and internet cable lines, allow cold to access pipes.
● Insulate your pipes – Wrap pipes in heating tape or pipe insulation, especially exposed pipes and pipes in exterior walls.
● Keep your home heated – If you leave town, or just if no one is home during the day, leave the thermostat set to at least 55 degrees.
● Open the faucets – If well-below-freezing temperatures are forecasted, open your faucets so a little water trickles out.
Dependable Plumber in Baltimore
While you may be able to thaw a pipe yourself, the guaranteed way to solve this problem without causing any damage is to contact a professional plumber. They can also identify and repair any damage and insulate your pipes to protect against future freezing.
Ace Plumbing has over 30 years of experience providing courteous and dependable plumbing services to the Greater Baltimore area. Our expert plumbers have the knowledge and experience to tackle any residential or commercial plumbing problem and restore your plumbing to top condition.
For help with frozen pipes or any other plumbing problem in the Baltimore area, call Ace Plumbing at (410) 256-7900 for reliable and affordable service.
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