Frozen Pipe Repair Facts From Reliable Contractor Services
Why Frozen Pipe is a Problem
Water has some very unique characteristics; one of those is that it expands in cold weather. Since there is very little room in a pipe to support the expansion, the pressure of the expanding water can burst the pipe causing the potential for a major water leak. Reliable Contractor Services is your Northeast Ohio frozen pipe repair experts! Pipes most susceptible to freezing are those exposed directly to cold weather like swimming pool lines, water sprinkler lines, lines running through unheated spaces inside and out. For example pipes inside the basements, in crawl spaces, in attics, in garages even under kitchen cabinets along an exterior wall are all susceptible to freezing. In some cases the pipe will freeze and burst but won’t leak immediately because the frozen water acts like a “sealant” holding back the water. Once the pipe thaws it will start leaking water into your property. If you suspect you have a frozen pipe, take immediate action and you may just prevent the pipe from bursting.
Tips To Prevent Frozen Pipes
• Let water trickle out of faucets in unheated areas or where pipes run on an exterior wall. Open cabinets under sinks during severe cold spells; this allows warm air circulate around the pipes. (Be sure to move harmful chemicals and cleaners so kids and pets can’t get to them) Wrap exposed pipe with insulation to keep them warm. Caulk cracks and seal any holes in the wall to prevent cold air drafting.
• Be sure to disconnect garden hoses from the exterior water valves. Then close inside valves supplying outdoor valves and open the outside hose valve to allow water to drain. Keep the outside valve open so that any water remaining in the pipe can expand without causing the valve to break. Keep garage doors closed if there are water lines there, insulate those pipes if you are able. It’s affordable and saves major headaches. • If you are concerned about a freezing pipe or temperatures are extremely cold, let the water drip from any faucet hooked to exposed pipes or pipes running along an exterior wall. (This is a great way to help prevent the line from freezing, so if you suspect a line may be prone to freezing do this immediately).
• During extreme cold, set the thermostat to the same temperature during the day and night, that will help keep the house warmer, you’ll have a higher heating bill but that bill will be a lot cheaper than a pipe that freezes and burst.
• Know where your property/ house water shut off valve is and be sure it is working properly. If you spring a leak due to a frozen pipe, the house shut off valve may be the only way you can stop the water from flowing into your home like a waterfall. Install valve tags and tag the house shut off valve.
Thawing Frozen Pipes
If your water pressure slows down in the winter you should suspect a frozen pipe. If you suspect a frozen pipe, immediately find the property/house water shut off valve and close it; that will turn off the main water supply entering the building thereby reducing any water that may start to leak from the pipe if it bursts. Once the house water shut off is turned off, open a number of faucets throughout the house to remove the pressure from the water lines and give the ice room to grow without squeezing the pipe.
Check pipes along exterior walls, in basements, in crawl spaces, under kitchen sinks, in attics or anywhere in your home that you feel is colder than the rest of the house.. If you can’t close the house shut off valve, open all the faucets in the house and leave them running at a trickle, this will help prevent other lines from freezing, aid in the thawing process and will help prevent the pressure build up that comes when pipes freeze. (Since you haven’t determined which line is frozen yet, leave all of them trickling, once you have isolated the frozen line you can turn the other faucets off) After identifying the frozen pipe, apply heat to that section of pipe using a hair dryer, UL approved electric heat tape, soak towels in hot water and wrap them around the pipe. Never use an open flame, blowtorch, propane heater, etc. to thaw pipes, you could end up burning down the house (You may need to call a licensed plumber like Reliable Basement and Drain LLC in the Cleveland, OH area if you can’t find the frozen area or have a pipe frozen inside a wall, we have pipe thawing equipment that can help thaw the pipe without damaging the wall). Remember to check all other faucets in your home to find out if you have additional frozen pipes; if one pipe freezes, others may also.
Contact the Professionals at the Reliable Contractor Services
In the Cleveland, Ohio area a good choice to call is Reliable Contractor Services. We are fully licensed and insured for all of your plumbing, water, sewer and drain needs. Our technicians are clean-cut, polite, friendly, arrive on time and are background and drug tested for your peace of mind. Reliable Contractor Services provides expert Northeast Ohio residential, commercial, municipal and industrial plumbing, drainage and foundation waterproofing services. With Over 10,000 customers since 1999, we have a Better Business Bureau A+ rating and are a multiple recipient of the Angie’s List Super Service award. OH license #23730.
We also provide new technology solutions in Trenchless Pipe, Sewer Jetting Vacuum Services, and General and Hydro Excavation. 24/7 Emergency Services available. Other services include sewer cleaning and backflow devices, septic tank repair/replacement, water heaters, sump pump and PumpSpy sump pump monitoring system certified installer, video pipe inspection and high pressure jetting.
Schedule your appointment today by calling 440-324-2380 or schedule online.