Effective Ways To Deal With And Prevent Frozen Pipes In Winter

Colorado’s winter often causes frozen pipes in your home. They also lead to significant plumbing issues that are costly to repair. You’ll need an expert plumber in Colorado Springs, CO to deal with the resulting damage or issues. Among the headaches you may have to deal with during the thick cold winter include slow drains, major iced clogs, and non-flowing water.

But often, prevention is better than the cure. Knowing the best ways to prevent and deal with frozen pipes can help you avoid major hassles and major water and drain disruptions.

Tips On Dealing With Frozen Pipes

Your local trusted plumbing company can guide you on how to prevent pipes from freezing. One of the best strategies is proper insulation, especially those located in colder areas of your home like basements, attics, or crawl spaces. The same goes for exposed pipes or those in cold spots prone to freezing.

You can use and apply insulation sleeves or heat tape to exposed pipes to keep them warm during freezing temperatures. Another practical tip is to leave your faucets slightly open during freezing conditions to keep water flowing. This can help prevent pipes from freezing solid.

If you have spare heaters, use them to prevent other pipes from completely getting frozen. This can save you a lot of stress when it comes to major drains pipes or water lines.

Cracks and holes around your home allow cold air to come into contact with your pipes. This also increases the risk of freezing. Sealing any gaps around windows, doors, and walls, especially in the vicinity of pipes can keep the cold air out. Plumbing specialists can also help identify vulnerable areas in your plumbing system and address them before winter hits.

Dealing With And Thawing Out Frozen Pipes

In case you’re already dealing with frozen pipes, you can call plumbing services to thaw your pipes safely. Even with the best preventive measures, freezing can still happen in the coldest peak temperatures. When that happens, acting quickly is essential. Follow these steps in preparation for plumbing services to help ease the process and prevent long delays:

Turn Off the Water Supply: If you have a frozen pipe or pipes, locate the main water shut-off valve and turn it off. This helps reduce pressure in the pipes and minimize the risk of a burst pipe.

Apply Heat: You can thaw the frozen section using a safe heat source such as a hairdryer, heating pad, or warm towels. Never use open flames or high heat. This can damage the pipe. Focus on the gradual application of heat and start from the faucet side of the pipe.

Open the Faucet: As you thaw out the pipe, leave the faucet open. Running water speeds up the thawing process and melts frozen water fast. As the ice inside the pipe melts, the water will begin to flow. This helps restore water flow faster.

Professional plumbing services have the tools to safely unfreeze pipes without causing damage. They may use heat lamps or pipe-thawing machines, designed for safe thawing and unfreezing of pipes. If the situation is more complicated, best to do the basic steps only and entrust the process to your plumbing professionals. It may lead to more costly damages.

Dealing With Complications

It’s important not to attempt a DIY repair for more complicated situations, as it can lead to more damage in the long run. Attempting to thaw pipes yourself using an open flame or other unsafe methods can increase the risk of damage or injury.

In extreme cases, pipe damage may develop. Professionals often recommend repairing or replacing damaged sections of the plumbing system to avoid costly complications after unfreezing them.

In severe cases, frozen pipes can burst, leading to significant water damage. You need to call emergency plumbing services immediately. Burst pipes occur when the ice inside a pipe expands, putting excessive pressure on the pipe walls.

When frozen pipes lead to an emergency, it’s crucial to have access to emergency plumbing services. Burst pipes can cause extensive water damage in your home, leading to costly repairs. Turning off the main water supply and drain the system to help minimize water damage until help arrives.

Frozen pipes can be difficult to deal with. Sometimes they lead to complications and water damage that need more involved professional help. You can rely on BullsEye Plumbing Heating And Air for expert plumbing help. From basic thawing to pipe repairs, you can count on our extensive expertise. We’re open 24/7. Call us today for an appointment.