7 Steps to Take If Your Pipes Freeze
When temperatures drop, the water inside your pipes may freeze, which can cause serious damage to your plumbing system. To prevent this from happening and to limit potential damage if it does occur, there are a few steps you can take.
1. Check Your Faucets
The first thing you should do if you think your pipes may be frozen is check all your water faucets to see if any of them are still running. If they are, then the problem has likely been caught early enough and can probably be solved without too much damage or hassle. However, it’s important to act quickly to thaw the rest of your pipes before they burst. If none of your faucets are running, then the pipes may have frozen more extensively, and you’ll need to take further steps.
2. Turn Up Your Heat
If your pipes have frozen, it can usually be solved by turning up the heat in your home. This will help thaw out any ice in your pipes and restore water flow. However, this should only be done if you’re using a safe source of heat—never use open flames or any other energy source that could cause further damage. The structure of your home may also be a factor since heat tends to escape from poorly insulated areas. Therefore, if you’re dealing with persistent freezing, it may be worth checking to see if any of your insulation needs to be replaced.
3. Use a Hair Dryer
If turning up the heat in your home isn’t enough, then you can try using a hair dryer or space heater on the pipes directly. This should help thaw out any ice that has built up and restore water flow. Make sure to never leave the hair dryer unattended or use it for a long period of time since this could be dangerous.
4. Seal Off Any Leaks
If the frozen pipe has caused it to burst, then you’ll need to take steps to seal off the leaking pipe. This is important as it will prevent further water damage, and you may also need to contact a professional plumber who can come in and make any more permanent repairs. On top of this, you’ll also want to turn off your home’s main water supply until the professional arrives.
5. Use Kosher Salt and Boiling Water
If your pipes are still frozen and you don’t want to use a hair dryer, you can try using a mixture of kosher salt and boiling water. This should help thaw the ice and restore water flow without causing any additional damage. Make sure to wear protective gloves when doing this, however, as the boiling water can be dangerous.
6. Prevent Further Damage
Once you’ve taken steps to thaw the frozen pipes and seal off any leaks, the next step is to take preventative measures to make sure this doesn’t happen again. This can include adding insulation to your pipes, increasing the temperature in your home before temperatures drop too low, and running water periodically throughout colder days.
7. Call a Professional
If none of these solutions works, then you should call a professional plumber for help. One of the things that a professional plumber can do is to run a special inspection to identify any potential problem areas in your plumbing system and make sure that they are properly insulated. Another option is to install heated cables that will help keep your pipes from freezing in the future.
It’s easy to get worried and overwhelmed if your pipes freeze, but with the right steps and a bit of knowledge, you can minimize any damage and get back to normal in no time. The good news is that in Mount Laurel Township, Price’s Plumbing Heating and Cooling is just a call away. We’re a full-service plumbing company that can help you with any issue, from frozen pipes to broken water heaters. Contact us today at (856) 325-9719 to learn how we can help you!