7 Tips for Preventing and Thawing Frozen Pipes
  • Visible floating white condensation smoke from pressurized tank isolated close up shot" data-caption="Liquid nitrogen frozen faucet and lever. Visible floating white condensation smoke from pressurized tank isolated close up shot." aria-label="Liquid nitrogen frozen faucet and lever. Visible floating white condensation smoke from pressurized tank isolated close up shot">

The local winters can be brutal, and there are measures you should be taking to protect your plumbing. If you don’t want to deal with frozen pipes this winter, you should follow a few tips that may prevent you from needing a plumbing repair. These seven tips can make all the difference and save you a significant amount of money in Red Oak.

Know Your Pipes

One of the first things you should do to protect your plumbing is to know your pipes well. First, you should realize that your pipes are often located in areas that don’t get much heat. For instance, the plumbing in your basement or attic has exposure to the elements. If you don’t take measures to limit that exposure, you could end up with a frozen and burst pipe.

Other areas of your home are vulnerable as well. Your garage, crawl spaces, and cabinets could have lower temperatures than the rest of your home. These are the areas that need extra attention.

Be Aware of the Danger

By educating yourself on the dangers of frozen pipes, you prepare yourself for the winter. If you have frozen pipes, you could develop a burst pipe. Once the water thaws, it could come gushing out of your plumbing. You risk having property damage, mold growth, and other issues.

If you don’t take your plumbing seriously, you are bound to have issues with it. Before the winter arrives, make sure you’re following other tips to protect your pipes from freezing.

Use Insulation

Once you know which parts of your plumbing system are vulnerable in the low temperatures, you can take measures to insulate them. You can either do this on your own or work with a plumber. Usually, the local hardware store sells insulated pipe sleeves or heat tape. You can buy your own materials and insulate the pipes that are in danger.

Even if you plan on being home all winter, you should prep your pipes. If you lose power or have an issue with your heater, you need to be ready. Insulating your pipes keeps you ready for everything.

Close the Garage

If you want to avoid issues, keep your garage door closed. Leaving your door open allows heat to escape your home and puts your pipes at risk. The cold weather can get to your water heater, main water line, and other parts of your plumbing. For the best results, keep your garage door closed.

Have a Slow Drip

This is a tip that you should use only when absolutely necessary. If it gets very cold and you have no other way to protect your pipes, open your faucets to a small drip. The moving water prevents the pipes from freezing, which keeps your plumbing intact. However, you should know that this isn’t a permanent fix. A slow leak costs you money on your utility bills.

When people go on vacation, they often use this tip in an attempt to prevent frozen pipes. But there are other, better ways to keep your plumbing from freezing. For instance, you should set your thermostat to a temperature around 65 degrees. Anything lower, and your pipes might freeze.

Know How to Thaw Your Pipes

If your pipes do freeze, do you know what to do to thaw them? Although it’s easy enough to thaw pipes, you need to be careful. First, turn on all of the faucets in your home. Doing so allows you to find the location of the frozen pipe because no water will come out of the affected fixture.

Once you find the frozen pipe, leave the hot and cold faucet on. The moving water might speed up the thawing process. If there is a door or cabinet, open it and put a space heater nearby. Do not leave the heater unattended or place it near leaking water. You can also try using a hairdryer, heat lamp, or heating tape to warm your pipes. Once again, be very careful. Start your heating at the area as close to the fixture as possible, or the ice might melt and then refreeze.

If a pipe is difficult to access, you might need to be creative to thaw the pipe. You can try to heat up your home and wait for everything to thaw out. Or, if you know exactly where the pipe is, you can use an infrared heat lamp to get the job done.

Call a Plumber

The best way to prevent a pipe from freezing is to call a plumber, and the best way to thaw a pipe is to call a plumber. If you want to avoid issues with frozen pipes, ask a plumber to winterize your home. They know which pipes are in danger and which methods they can use to protect your plumbing.

In the event that it’s too late, a plumber can safely thaw your pipes. They won’t put you in danger, and they will minimize the risk of a burst pipe. As soon as you suspect a burst pipe, call us at Combat Plumbing. You need a plumber who can act quickly and get the job done well.

FAQ: What is the best way to thaw frozen water pipes?

The best way to thaw frozen pipes is to do so slowly. If you try to use a heating element on your pipes, you could start a fire or damage your plumbing. It’s best to open any cabinet doors and to allow the pipes to naturally thaw. Furthermore, you should call for help from plumbing repair services. The best plumbers in Red Oak can tell you what to do.

How do you prevent frozen pipes?

You can prevent frozen pipes by insulating your pipes, keeping your home warm, and consulting with a reputable plumbing installation services company.

What temperature will prevent pipes from freezing?

There’s no exact temperature to prevent frozen pipes repair, but a good rule to follow is to keep your home around 60 degrees or warmer. If it’s too late and you need plumbing repair in Red Oak, call us at Combat Plumbing.

2022-03-31T09:49:38+00:00

Share This Post With Others!



   
ATMOS Energy Authorized Dealer

SERVICE AREAS
Dallas - Highland Park - University Park - Irving - Grand Prairie - Cockerell Hill - Garland - Duncanville - Desoto - Lancaster - Mesquite - Balch Springs - Red Oak - Ovilla - Waxahachie - Palmer - Ennis - Midlothian - Cedar Hill - Ferris - Wilmer - Glenn Heights - Hutchins - Oak Leaf - Rocket - Hillsboro - Whitney - Blum - Itasca - Milford - Italy - Covington - Grandview - Aquila

76645 - 75201 - 75202 - 75203 - 75204 - 75205 - 75206 - 75207 - 75208 - 75209 - 75210 - 75211 - 75212 - 75214 - 75215 - 75216 - 75217 - 75218 - 75219

LICENSES:

M-43420