Dealing With Frozen Water Pipes
The bitterly cold weather is having an effect on the water pipes of many people’s houses. Freezing conditions result in frozen water inside the pipes and this can result in burst pipes that won’t become apparent until the temperature rises and the water melts. The problem is that the leak may not become obvious when you are still at home and the leak could be allowed to go on unchecked for hours.
Many people are reporting that their sprinkler systems are spraying water due to a crack in the exterior pipes. You will be able to work out if your pipes are frozen or broken simply by turning on the faucet and nothing comes out. If this happens you should remain vigilant until the water flow returns.
If you want to ensure that you avoid coming home to a water damage problem the best idea is to identify where the master water shut-off valve is and, if you’re going to be away from the house for any length of time, turn the water off.
There are many areas in the country where residents have never been confronted with the problem of frozen water pipes and so all of this is new. The urge will be to want to thaw the pipes out as quickly as you can but it’s an urge that can be destructive rather than helpful. There are some steps to take if you want to thaw out your water pipes but it is a task that you should only attempt if you know what you’re doing. Thawing frozen water pipes too quickly can be a sure road to broken pipes.
A couple of tips to help you properly thaw out your water pipes include thawing them out by applying warm, damp washcloths to the pipes and by turning up the indoor heat and exposing the indoor pipes to it. The idea is to proceed with the thawing process slowly and patiently or you run the risk of causing more damage than may have been otherwise going to occur.
Before you even think about dealing with your frozen water pipes your best option is to talk to a plumber for some advice. Let the professionals guide you and save you the expense of having to clean up severe water damage.