Preventing Frozen Pipes

This year the cold weather came in like a lion and preventing frozen pipes is something you must do! My pipes froze last year and I was without running water for days. Here are some tips for preventing frozen pipes and what to do if your pipes do freeze.

Locate your water shut-off valve

First of all, do you know where your water shut-off valve is located? Before you do anything else, go to your basement or garage and find your water shut off. Furthermore, be sure to tag it so everyone in your household knows where it is and how to turn it off in the case of an emergency of a burst or frozen pipe.

Did you disconnect your water hoses?

Hopefully, you remembered to disconnect all of your water hoses from your exterior spigots before the freeze this week. By leaving your hoses connected, the water in them can freeze, expand and back up into the spigot and actually burst an interior pipe.

Open your cabinet doors

If you have interior sinks located on exterior walls, it’s normal for your plumbing to be vulnerable because the exterior walls are not insulated. The cold air from the outside can and will cause frozen pipes. Open the doors under your sinks to allow the heat from the room to get in there and keep the pipes warm.

Preventing frozen pipes best tip

When the temperatures drop below freezing, be sure to leave your faucets on those exterior wall sinks at a slow drip. This will keep the water moving through the pipes. It may increase your water bill a little, but that small increase will be much cheaper than burst or frozen pipes.

How to know if you have frozen pipes

If your water pressure is low, you may have a frozen pipe somewhere in the house. A pipe that feels extremely cold to the touch may be frozen. It’s imperative to clear the blockage as soon as possible to prevent a pipe from bursting in some inaccessible area of your home.

If you have no water service, more than likely the main line from the street may be frozen. Call me for a referral to an honest plumber to assist you.

Thawing frozen pipes

Open a nearby faucet slightly so the pipe can drain as it starts to thaw. You can use a hair dryer or heating pad to thaw a frozen pipe. Do not use in standing water as you could be electrocuted. Do not use a blow torch or pour hot water onto frozen pipes.

Need a plumber?

Finally, if you need a referral to a plumber for any regular or emergency service, please call or text me at (913) 515-3250 anytime 24/7.  Heaven forbid you call one of those plumbers that advertise heavily on television. That one mistake alone could cost you thousands of your hard-earned dollars. Please allow me to refer you to someone who is NOT on my own personal DO NOT CALL LIST and will look out for your best interests.

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