Frozen Pipes can be detrimental to your home. If not taken care of, they can burst, causing thousands of dollars in property damage and flooding. Back in 2023, a friend of mine had a pipe burst in his home, and they were without a living room for a long time! However, to prevent this from happening to you, I’ve compiled a list of things to do if you suspect that you’ve got frozen pipes. However, you must act quickly! Left unchecked, frozen pipes can have devastating consequences.
How to Tell if Your Pipes are Frozen
The first warning sign of a frozen pipe is a decrease in water pressure. Water will typically shoot out of a faucet quickly. However, if the pipes are frozen, the water will start to drip or trickle out of the faucet. In the absolute worst-case scenario, no water will be coming out of the pipes, and the pipes will eventually burst. If you can locate the pipes, you might notice some frost, bulging, and/or strange sounds coming from the pipes. If you have one or all of these, then your pipes are frozen.
What To Do
If you have frozen pipes, the very first thing that you should do is turn on the faucets to a slight trickle. This will help the flow of water and prevent pressure from building up. Turning on the faucets gives a place for the melting ice or water in the pipes to escape from, so the pipes don’t build up pressure and eventually burst.
You can also try applying minor heat to the pipes. You can do this with a hair dryer, hot towels, or even a small heating pad! Doing this will help the ice in the pipes melt, which will give the melting ice a place to go!
But if none of the above work, you should locate the shut-off valve for your water system. When you do this, the water in your house will stop pumping and flowing into the house. This relieves stress on the pipes and prevents pressure buildup. This is especially important if the pipes start leaking, because that’ll help stop more detrimental damage from a pipe that’s on the verge of bursting.
What Happens if You Ignore the Frozen Pipes?
Frozen pipes should NEVER be ignored. Ignoring frozen pipes will eventually lead to a pipe bursting. After a pipe bursts, hundreds of gallons of water can get pushed into your home. This will result in thousands of dollars in property damage. You could be without a specific section of your home for a long period of time while you work on repairs.
In rare cases, burst pipes can go unnoticed during the winter. A pipe can suddenly burst in the spring or the summer if the pipe has been worn, eroded, or cracked. Cracking is common on frozen pipes because if the water is expanding in the pipes, this puts a lot of pressure on them. If enough pressure is put on the pipes, they will eventually crack and burst!
Contact a Plumber
If you’re unable to do any of this, don’t feel confident or want to play it safe, contact a plumber! Contacting a plumber is the best thing to do when it comes to frozen pipes. There are likely several local plumbers in your area who will be able to come take a look at your pipes and remedy them quickly!
The cost of the plumber will vary depending on their prices. However, the average is between $ 100 and $ 500. However, if your pipes have already burst, then the repair from the plumber could cost upwards of $1500 or more! Not to mention all the property damage that the burst pipe might’ve caused. I’d rather spend $500 on a plumber than $1500+ on repairs!
Conclusion
Frozen pipes are no laughing matter. They can cause serious damage to homes, resulting in flooding and property damage. However, if you contacted a plumber and they can’t come right away, turn on your faucets for a drip to hold you over until they come. But it’s much safer to turn off your water valve. This will be the most effective in preventing a burst pipe. But in a dire situation, this is the best way to handle frozen pipes! Stay vigilant, and you’ll be able to ensure that your pipes don’t burst!
Happy Heating!
Hunter
