When the temperatures plummet, your home may suffer from burst pipes. Thankfully, you can prevent frozen pipes so that this doesn't become an issue.
Learn professional tips and tricks in this helpful guide. If you need frozen pipe repair, the experts at Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup have your back.
Why Pipe Freezing Occurs
Extremely cold weather can freeze pipes. When this happens, the frozen water inside the pipe causes the material to expand and form small cracks. Adding more water pressure inside the system results in a burst pipe, which can quickly wreak havoc on your home.
How To Prevent Frozen Pipes This Winter
When winter arrives, it's important to protect pipes from this common plumbing disaster. The following tips can help you keep your water pipes strong and functional.
Insulate Exposed Pipes
Water pipes can freeze due to poor insulation. Covering them with a protective foam material will keep the pipe warm enough to avoid expanding and bursting. The pipes underneath your sinks may not be the same temperature as the rest of your house, so you can also open the cabinets to expose them to warmer air.
Drain Water Sources Outside Your Home
Outdoor frozen pipes can pass through exterior walls and impact your indoor plumbing systems as well. You must shut off and drain the water supply to all exterior water sources. This includes:
- Swimming pool supply lines
- Garden hose spigots
- Outdoor water fountains
Shut off your outside water supply and drain all of the water from these fixtures before the first freeze of the season.
Maintain Your Home's Heat
Pipes freeze when the temperature drops below a certain number. To prevent pipes from freezing and bursting, keep your indoor temperature at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Prolonged temperatures below this mark can result in significant damage to your pipes.
Experts recommend keeping your heat on even if you're going away for an extended period as a precaution. Doing so means you won't be returning home to a huge mess because a frozen pipe has burst.
Navigating Frozen Pipe Repair
To fix frozen pipes, professional plumbers follow a specific checklist. The first step is to locate the frozen pipe and assess the damage. It could have small cracks in it, so plumbers must prepare the space for leaks when they thaw pipes.
It's important to warm up the pipes using heated items that don't produce extreme temperatures or flames since this can damage the plumbing system. Instead, experts recommend wrapping the pipes in warm towels or using a space heater. The flow of water should be at normal pressure as the pipes thaw, and you should patch any detected leaks immediately.
Contact Local Experts To Fix Frozen Pipes
Now that you know the dangers of frozen pipes and how to prevent them, you can apply these tips to your home this winter. Dealing with a frozen pipe that bursts isn't fun, but Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup can help. Call our experts at (731) 213-3611 to request immediate service in Jackson, Tennessee.
Our Roto-Rooter Plumbers can also help you with any of your kitchen plumbing from leaky faucets to garbage disposal maintenance.
