During cold, winter months, a lot of things can go wrong. One of the most common causes to call for expert to aid you, are frozen water pipes. This advent is quite common, especially if we don’t pay attention in time, or if we don’t react on spot, severe damage may be caused. Luckily, even if does happen to you, don’t panic, for not all is lost, and it can be done quite easily, just keep calm, and use these tips.
Prevention
If by any chance, winter temperatures had caught you off-guard, or you simply didn’t prepare pipes for the incoming freezes, the result is that you will probably notice that water in your faucet had stopped flowing. Try any other faucets, and if only one is dry, then you can narrow down the area where are you going to look for clog. If several or all faucets in the house are left without water, then probably the cause is outside, before water reaches the house.
Source of the problem and first steps
There is one certain way to find out the cause of your situation. By following down pipe from faucet to its source, you will notice a bulge on the pipe. That's where your problem is. Or, if you don’t see the bump, you will certainly spot a place where pipes are covered in hoarfrost or ice. That is the place where your problem resides. The first thing you should do is to shut off the next valve toward water source. If there aren’t any of those, turn off the main valve in that case. Now, see if there are any cracks or crevices, for when ice melts, it will leak from there. Just in case, have a bucket and few towels ready at hand, so you may act fast.
Melting down
According to my friend, who is experienced emergency plumbing specialist, this is the most delicate moment. You will need a drying fan, or a heat gun, depending on what do you have. You need a heat source here, but not the open flame. Fast change of temperature can cause the steam to be produced, and this can also make pipes burst. Even worse, you can set something on fire, thus causing a lot more damage than it usually would be. Plastic pipes are particularly sensitive to heat, but are easier to repair, and use extreme caution not to melt it down. Sometimes, cracks can’t be seen by naked eye, and are discovered later. When you have melted down the ice, slowly turn back the valve, and pay attention on the water flow. It is highly recommended to have some aid, for someone can let you know if the water started flowing, or is it still clogged.
Consequences and aftermaths
If you are lucky, you didn’t have any leakages, and simply by turning back on the main valve, your problem is solved. But, if water had leaked, and even worse, if flooded your room, then turn back off the valve, and first dry out the area. By doing this, you reduce the probability of repeating the same issue, for if the moist gets somehow in the walls or the floor, when it freezes, it will make damage certainly. If you are skillful and keen on replacing damaged section of the pipe, do so, but if not, it would be wiser to call on the expert. A professional plumber can replace damaged parts in a matter of minutes, and the cost won’t be too high. If he advises you to install isolation on the pipes, do so, for this small investment can save your time and money later.
So, with all said taken into an account, this is not a big fuss to deal with. Just follow these simple rules, and you will get water flowing fast enough.
