A common problem prevailing in cold regions is frozen pipes. Most homeowners have to spend their earnings to fix the frozen and broken pipes in the winter season. Water expands at freezing temperatures and puts heavy pressure on the pipes of homes and apartments. Even the heaviest plastic and metal pipes can break due to the pressure of frozen water.
Homeowners can hire professional plumbing services from masterrooter.com for their homes or apartments. This full guide helps homeowners find several ways to fix frozen pipes in cold climates.
Which pipes get frozen during the cold climate?
With a dip in the temperature, the common problem of frozen pipes occurs in every home. Pipes that frequently freeze are:
- Pipes are connected to swimming pool supply lines, water sprinkler lines, and outdoor hose bibs.
- Pipes are connected to remote spaces such as crawl spaces, garages, basements, and kitchen cabinets.
- Pipes attached against exterior walls without any insulation.
Common tips to follow while checking frozen pipes in the home
The pipes freeze due to the extreme pressure of the water in cold climates. Homeowners can check the frozen pipes in the following ways:
- No water supply from the pipe
Frozen pipes prevent water from flowing freely from the sources. This is the most common way to check frozen pipes.
- Bad odors in the drain
Another way to check frozen pipes is to check the bad smell from the faucet or drain. Frozen pipes often spread bad smell in the home.
- Frost on the part of the pipe
The frost accumulated on the pipe indicates that it is frozen in a cold climate.
Common ways for prevention of frozen pipes
Many methods can help to prevent the problem of frozen pipes, such as:
- Proper insulation of every pipe
Homeowners must get full insulation of the pipes of the home to prevent the problem of frozen pipes.
- Maintaining a proper heating temperature
Cold temperatures are the main cause of frozen pipes. Homeowners must set their thermostats to a low temperature to prevent pipes from freezing in cold weather.
- Turning on all the taps
This method certainly works in many homes. Turning on the taps starts the water supply from all the pipes. Another way to overcome this issue is to call a professional plumber.
- Heating the pipes
Heating the frozen pipes is one of the most effective ways to prevent this problem. Using a hairdryer to warm the pipes may solve the issue on the spot.
- Electric heater
Many people try this remedy to get rid of the problem. They use an electric heater to warm up the frozen pipes and restore them to normal condition.
Some steps to follow to prevent pipes from freezing
Pipes can be prevented from freezing through heat or other ways such as:
- Sealing the pipes with cement blocks the way of cold air
- Homeowners must disconnect all the garden hoses to prevent pipes from freezing.
- Continuous water movement in the system can solve this issue. A drip in the home’s faucets will stop pipes from freezing.
- Closing the valves of all the outdoor faucets will prevent the pipes from getting frozen in winter.
Fixing frozen pipes with smart tips
Even after trying many ways to prevent pipes from freezing, they freeze during cold climates. Homeowners can try to fix exposed pipes by wrapping them in a heating pad and keeping the temperature high.
The pipes can be wrapped in heated and dampened towels. A space heater can spread warm air around the pipe to fix it immediately.
Conclusion
These methods will save homeowners money and extra effort. Insulation is the best way to protect pipes in cold weather. If these problems persist for a long time, homeowners must hire plumbing services to get a long-term solution.
References:
- https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/winter-storm/frozen-pipes.html?srsltid=AfmBOopq7wdrfLvI94tEHgh6LuC10zMOyYYJn8glkFcU-cwrkPO28Dby
- https://www.edfenergy.com/energywise/prevent-pipes-freezing
https://www.homedepot.com/c/ah/how-to-prevent-pipes-from-freezing/9ba683603be9fa5395fab905760afb9
