The Best Ways to Thaw Out Frozen Pipes

These ideas will help you unfreeze your frozen pipes and avoid substantial damage.

If you wake up after a cold morning and you have no water, you’ll need to act fast to lessen the damage and cost of repair work.

What Makes Freezing Pipes Crack
Not all freezing pipelines burst at first. However when it does, it’s since water expands when it freezes, including considerable pressure on unyielding plumbing pipelines. That pressure can cause a small leak at a joint or fracture on a length of pipe, releasing the full flow of water inside your house.

Water damage from rupturing pipes is among the most typical homeowners insurance coverage claims, with a typical claim cost of about $5,000.

How You Know if Your Pipes Are Froze
A water line covered in frost (or bulging like a well-fed python) is a good indication that it’s frozen, however most plumbing pipes in your home are not visible.
The first sign is if you have no water flow when you turn on your faucets.

How to Unfreeze Frozen Pipes
Before doing anything, shut off the water supply to that section of plumbing (or the whole house if that’s the only choice) due to the fact that the genuine trouble begins after the thaw. That’s because the frozen water may be serving as a plug, keeping water from spilling out of the cracks in your pipes. When that plug is thawed, water gushes out. It’s a great idea to be ready with a mop, bucket, and towels in case there’s a pipes leak.

Use a space heater, heat lamp, or hair dryer to thaw the frozen length of pipe. Covering freezing pipes with thermostatically controlled heat tape (from $50 to $200, depending upon length) is likewise a reliable method to rapidly thaw a trouble spot.

Don’t thaw pipelines utilizing a propane torch, which provides a fire risk.

What to Do if Your Pipe Busts
If you walk in to discover real life geyser in your basement, the first thing you need to do is turned off the main supply of water to decrease flooding. Next, call your plumbing technician.

Right away dry by getting rid of as much water as possible utilizing mops, sponges, towels, and a wet/dry vacuum. To reduce mold, mildew, and other moisture-related problems, run a dehumidifier in the area till it’s very dry.

For huge messes, call your insurance representative. The good news is that a lot of homeowners insurance coverage covers burst pipelines and the resulting water damage.

A Couple of Words About That Main Water Shut-Off Valve
You’ll want to know where your main shut off valve is in your home.

Not only should property owners know where the valve lies, they must have it inspected the next time a plumbing professional is on website. If your house has an older gate-style valve, it might be worth the money to have it changed with a more reputable ball valve.

Gate valves are prone to sticking when you require them the most, so it’s an excellent idea to work them once a year by turning them back and forth.

South End Plumbing specializes in all plumbing services, so remember, we are just a click away. We also specialize in video sewer line inspection – give us a call! South End Plumbing is one of the only companies that will give you a free estimate. Call us at 704-919-1722 or fill out the form online to schedule a visit.