Frozen pipes are a fairly common plumbing problem that many homeowners have dealt with. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know if this every happens to you!
How to Know if Your Pipes are Frozen
If you turn on a faucet and nothing comes out after a cold spell, there’s a pretty good chance you have a frozen pipe. The pipe may just be partially frozen if there’s a trickle of water coming out when you turn on the tap. Regardless, this is still an issue that needs to be resolved quickly.
How to Locate Frozen Pipes
If possible, follow the pipes back from the malfunctioning faucet until you find one with frost or condensation on it. It’s a good idea to test other taps throughout your home to determine whether the frozen pipe is nearby or if it’s a few junctions back from the faucet.
How to Thaw Frozen Pipes
If one of your pipes is indeed frozen, you’ll need to be careful. Don’t ever use a torch or an open flame when thawing frozen pipes, as it can cause damage to the pipe. Instead, wrap the pipe in a heating pad or heating tape or set a space heater close to the frozen pipe.
How to Thaw Frozen Pipes in a Wall
If the frozen pipe is not very accessible, turn up your thermostat and wait. You can also aim an infrared heater at the section of wall with the frozen pipe behind it. You may have to cut through the wall if these methods don’t work.
How to Thaw Frozen Pipes Underground
If the frozen pipe is located underground, you’ll need to call in a plumber. They’ll aim a jet of water down your frozen pipe until it thaws out. Don’t attempt this yourself as you may do more harm than good.
How to Fix Frozen Pipes
If the pipes haven’t burst, then unfreezing them should fix the problem. If the pipes have burst, call in one of our trusted Framingham plumbers to quickly take care of the problem. We’ll replace the broken section of pipe and get your plumbing system back in working order.
How to Prevent Frozen Pipes
In a previous post, we went into detail about how to prevent frozen pipes. We’ve summarized several things you can do to prevent frozen pipes below:
- Add insulation to your home
- Keep the thermostat turned up higher
- Wrap pipes that tend to freeze in self-heating tape
If you have any more questions about frozen pipes, call us at Nicholson Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning today!