How to Thaw a Frozen Pipe

If you live in a cold climate you already know that excessive cold will ruin your plumbing. If water freezes in the pipes, the water expands and the joints of the pipes (and even the pipes themselves) expand and break. Once the water defrosts, your pipes break and, as the water thaws, it bursts forth and floods your landscaping, kitchen, or bathroom, possibly messing up your flooring and wall board. Exactly what measures can you take to avoid this unnecessary flooding and repair?

Keep your pipes well-insulated. Home stores sell special pipe insulation which is very easy to cover pipes and keep the water warmer inside of them. You could insulate any pipes you have access to, including those in attic spaces and beneath the house. Be sure you insulate landscape pipes as well. Those pipes are actually most vulnerable since they are outside. In most climates, this measure is sufficient.

During especially cold times of the season, it is recommended that you retain the water running, thus forcing the water to stay moving, as opposed to letting it sit in the pipe and freeze. It doesn’t have to be much, even a small flow of water from a bathroom sink might be enough. With the water continuously flowing throughout the pipelines, there’ll be a lesser chance that water will turn into ice.

If you are planning to leave the house for a holiday vacation, just be sure you keep the heater on. Circulating warm air is an efficient method to prevent frozen pipes. The temperature ought to be maintained above 55 degrees Fahrenheit, thinking about all the sinks, faucets and pipelines situated near or on exterior walls. Space heaters of your home can prevent the pipelines from getting frozen and cracked. Alternatively, you can use anti-freeze and non-toxic solutions and chemicals available for sale to defrost the pipelines.

Also, your family should know where the water supply and the water drainage valves are, in the event there are any kind of problems. Some information will save you and your family a lot of money in the future. Be sure that your family understands the home water system. This can include, water heaters, water supply pipes, water drainage pipes, sinks, bathtubs, showers, toilets, dishwashers, boilers, heating systems and drainage traps. If the pipes happen to be cracked, nothing is still left to complete but contact the plumbing experts and have them reinstall piping. This is an pricey and involved work, therefore make sure that you prevent freezing first.

Speak Your Mind

*