The winter cold brings enough torment, with cold and flu season, freezing temperatures, and the consistent need for deicer. But in addition to sickness and the bitter cold, the cool season can also usher in a certain plumbing program – frozen pipes.
When the weather turns and the temperature dips below freezing and the water in your pipes freeze and swell, it can cause anything from a tiny leak, to a full-fledge flooding of your home. HouseLogic.com said that water damage from broken pipes is one of the most common homeowners insurance claims, with the typical claim costing about $5000.
So what can you do in the event you think your pipes might be frozen? Winnipeg Supply Service Experts is here to with a few tips.
How to Identify a Frozen Water Pipe
If you catch a water pipe coated in frost or any lumps within the pipe, that it’s a pretty sure sign that your water pipe is frozen. While it may seem pretty simple to know if your water lines are frozen, just note that not all plumbing pipes are obvious. If you turn on the faucet and the water isn’t flowing, or not flowing properly, or your toilets aren’t filling back up after your flush, that’s also an indicator that your pipes could be frozen.
So How Do You Thaw a Frozen Water Pipe?
NOTE: before you start working to thaw your pipes, turn off your home’s water supply. As you thaw the frozen pipe, that ice will become water and that water could end up all over your house if the frozen water has been working as a plug and prohibiting water from escaping out of your pipes.
Once you’ve turned off the water, and gathered up a mop, rags, and anything else you could need to clean up the water that could possibly come flowing out, utilize a heat lamp, space heater, or hair dryer to thaw the frozen water pipe. You can also try wrapping towels that have been soaked in hot water around your water pipes. Do not use a blowtorch, propane heater, or kerosene, or anything else with an open flame, as this might cause a fire danger.
If you cannot locate or get to the frozen water pipe, call an expert plumber to come to your home and inspect your pipes.
What If the Worst Happens – a Pipe Bursts?
As we said, first things first – turn off your home’s water supply. Then, call an expert plumber right away. While you are waiting on the plumber to come, start mopping up the water with a mop, rags, sponges – whatever you have – to soak up as much water as you possibly can before it causes damage. If the damage is critical, go ahead and contact your insurance agent – a large number of homeowners insurance covers burst pipes that cause water damage.
Don’t wait until something terrible happens to understand how to shut off your water supply. Take a few minutes now to learn right where your water supply valve is located and how to correctly shut off the water to your home. A little prep now will save you crucial time during a plumbing emergency.