With cold winter weather comes one of the things homeowners dread the most: frozen pipes. As the weather dips below freezing for extended periods of time, pipes can freeze, and sometimes that frozen water can split a pipe or compromise a pipe fitting joint. When the ice begins to thaw this can cause further damage in and around the areas near the break. Damage can add up very quickly.
Here are 5 tips to prevent frozen pipes during cold winter weather:
1.Insulate your pipes beforehand. Any exposed pipes should be insulated with special pipe insulation sold at various hardware stores.
2. Let your faucets drip. A steady drip at each faucet, both from hot and cold taps, will help prevent water from freezing in the lines going to that faucet.
3. Open your cabinet doors under the faucets. This will allow the heat from the room into the cabinets. This is especially important if the faucet is on an outdoor wall.
4. Drain water from the swimming pool and water sprinkler supply lines. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions in performing this procedure.
5. Keep the heat on, even if you leave your home. Steady temperatures between daytime and nighttime will help prevent possible damage if pipes freeze and burst.
If your pipes do become frozen, what do you do next?
1. Don’t attempt to thaw any pipes without turning off the main shut-off valve. This will prevent any leaks from wreaking havoc once thawed out.
2. Melt frozen pipes by warming the air around it with a hairdryer or space heater. Do not leave heaters unattended. Avoid the use of kerosene heaters or open flames. If you can not find the frozen area or it is inaccessible, you will need to call a licensed plumber.
3. When the pipes are thawed, slowly turn the water back on and look for any broken joints or cracked pipes in the frozen areas.
In the event that your frozen pipes have already burst and caused water damage, you’ll want to contact a water damage expert, such as Paul Davis of Lincoln Nebraska. We can help assess and mitigate your water damage. We will dry out the area and make the repairs needed to your home’s damage. Call us today at (402) 875-6075.
Read more about our water damage repair services here.