Frozen pipes are common during a particularly cold winter, causing problems for home and business owners. Water expands as it freezes, causing its container, such as a pipe, to burst. Burst pipes can cause massive water damage and even lead to mold growth, resulting in expensive repairs.
If significant preparation has not been taken to prevent pipes from freezing, there’s still something you can do. Here are the steps to take in case a pipe gets frozen.
Frozen Pipe Prevention
Since it is still early in the winter, there are still some ways to prevent pipes from freezing before the temperature drops dramatically.
- Drain the remaining water inside the pipes.
- Keeping the heat in is essential; it is important to keep the plumbing in the unheated areas of the home properly insulated, such as in the basement and garage. Be sure to keep your garage doors shut.
- To allow warm air to circulate around pipes in the kitchen and bathroom, open cabinet doors but ensure that chemicals are kept out of children’s reach.
- Let the faucet drip if the weather is very cold outside.
- Lastly, set the thermostat to the same temperature both day and night and set it to a temperature no lower than 55° F if you will be traveling during winter.
How to Deal With Frozen Pipes
Since it is still early in the winter, there are still some ways to prevent pipes from freezing before the temperature drops dramatically.
- Turn off the water supply to reduce pressure on the frozen pipe and minimize flooding in case the pipe bursts.
- Warm the pipe by using an electric hair dryer or by wrapping a section with an electric heating pad or with towels soaked in hot water. This would melt the ice inside. It would be better if the frozen area can be located to concentrate the heat there.
- Open flames should not be used to heat the pipe. If the ice cannot be thawed or if the frozen area is not accessible, call a qualified plumber to inspect it.
- If the pipe is large enough and can be accessed, a garden hose may be pushed through it. Hot water should then be run through the garden hose slowly until the ice melts. Be careful with this process since the hot water can back up on your end when the garden hose is overfilled.
- Inspect the pipe for leaks since water can run through them after the pipe has been thawed.
When a pipe bursts unexpectedly, it’s time to call a professional water damage restoration company in Atlanta, GA to assess and handle the damage.
Winter Water Damage?
Call ServiceMaster by LoveJoy, Georgia’s Best Water Damage Restoration Service Provider
There’s no telling when a frozen pipe will burst, so if you find yourself in the middle of a winter water damage crisis, call the experts at ServiceMaster by LoveJoy to immediately remove it. Give us a call at (678) 293-0297 or connect with us online to schedule an appointment.
- Over 20 years of experience
- IICRC Certified Firm in Conyers, GA
- Licensed and qualified restoration specialists
- State-of-the-art equipment and cleaning solutions
- Direct insurance billing
