What to Do for Frozen Pipes

Plumbing Tip #4: How to Fix Frozen Pipes

Frozen pipes can be a disaster for homeowners. When water freezes, it expands and may expand to the point of bursting a pipe. This then leads to water damage. Whether it is indoor or outdoor pipes, you can avoid the costly damage and the resulting necessary repairs caused by frozen pipes by following a few simple guidelines on how to fix frozen pipes.

Insulating water pipes is a good start to avoiding a frozen pipe mishap. All water pipes that are exposed to below freezing temperatures should be insulated. This includes pipes in garages and basements if there is not a heat source in these areas. When the temperatures get cold it is also a good idea to leave your garage closed to keep as much cold air out as possible.

A costly mistake that can cause frozen pipes is leaving your outdoor hoses used for gardening attached to your house when the weather turns cold. It is vital to take the time and planning to detach these hoses. One should also ensure that the shut off valves located on the pipes going to your outside faucets are closed and that those faucets are opened to let the residual water drain from them.

When it’s really cold, sometimes the indoor pipes can even freeze. By leaving the doors to cabinets open, some heat can reach the pipes under faucets and hopefully prevent the freezing of these pipes. In frigid situations, it may be advised to leave a slow trickle of water running into the sink to keep the water moving and avoid the freezing of the pipes.

What should you do if you find that your pipes are frozen? First turn off the main shut off valve but leave the faucets on. This ensures that as the ice melts you won’t end up with too much pressure in the pipes. You may use a blow dryer (but never a blow torch) to assist in the thawing of the pipes.

If you end up with frozen pipes that have caused a bad plumbing disaster, it might be time to call a professional who can help you no matter the weather. You’ve come to the right place. Denver Plumber Reviews.com is the place to go to find skilled licensed plumbers who understand the cold weather we have here in Colorado! Read what other people have to say about our Colorado plumbers and give one of them a call for any of your plumbing needs.