A frozen pipe is a serious issue that can spell disaster for any homeowner. Not only could it leave you without one or more of your plumbing fixtures, but it could also cause costly damage if it bursts. It definitely counts as a plumbing emergency, so you should call a plumber to deal with the problem as soon as possible.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t anything you can do while you’re waiting for a plumber to arrive. Even if you can’t fix the problem yourself, you can still mitigate any potential damage and make any repairs that much easier. Here’s what you can do about a frozen pipe while you’re waiting for help to arrive.
1. Shut Off Your Water
Before you do anything else, find your main water shutoff valve and turn it off. If you haven’t taken the time to find your shutoff valve, look in your basement or crawlspace. If you need any help finding it, call your local utility line’s emergency line for assistance. Turning off your water will help prevent water damage if a frozen pipe bursts or starts to leak.
2. Try to Find the Frozen Pipe
If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to find the frozen pipe in your home. It’s most likely to be an exposed pipe in your basement, garage, crawlspace, or anywhere else that isn’t sufficiently heated or insulated. An exposed frozen pipe will obviously be ice cold to the touch, but you might also see frost on the outside of it.
If you can’t find any exposed frozen pipes, the problem is likely a pipe inside your walls. You won’t be able to actually see or touch these frozen pipes, but you can sometimes get a good idea of where they’re located. Make a note of any faucets that aren’t working or that make strange sounds when you try to use them. They are most likely connected to the frozen pipes, especially if they’re close to an exterior wall of your house.
3. Open Faucets That Are Connected to the Frozen Pipe
Even though you won’t be able to use faucets connected to frozen pipes, you should still turn them on. It will help relieve some of the pressure in the sections of pipe that aren’t frozen and prevent them from bursting or leaking. It will also give water a place to drain out as the pipe thaws. Not only is a trickling faucet a fairly reliable sign that a frozen pipe is thawing, but it will also help any remaining ice to thaw faster.
4. Check the Frozen Pipe for Leaks
If you can see the frozen pipe, check it for any signs of leaks. Some leaks are hard to find without any help from a plumber, but larger holes will be quite obvious. Pay especially close attention to joints and fixtures. This is where pipes are at their weakest and where leaks are most likely to develop.
5. Attempt to Thaw the Frozen Pipe
If you have an exposed frozen pipe, you may be able to thaw it yourself. You do need to be careful when attempting this. Trying to thaw a frozen pipe too quickly could weaken it and cause it to leak.
To thaw a frozen pipe, first open all faucets that are connected to it. As we’ve said before, this helps relieve pressure on the pipes and speeds up the thawing process. Next, apply gentle heat to the frozen section of the pipe. Electric heating pads are extremely useful for this task, as are hairdryers and electric space heaters, as long as they aren’t too close to the pipe or near any water. You can also soak towels in hot water and wrap them around the pipe. Keep applying heat until water starts to trickle out of the connected faucets or until a plumber arrives to help. It may be a slow process, so be patient, and do not use anything with an open flame to try to thaw the pipe faster. That will just create a fire hazard and make your problems worse.
If you’re able to thaw a frozen pipe by yourself, slowly turn your water back on and check for any leaks that you may have overlooked. If you find any, shut off your water immediately and call a plumber for help if you haven’t already.
Preventing Your Pipes from Freezing
As with any problems around your house, the best way to deal with frozen pipes is to prevent them from freezing in the first place. First of all, know when pipes are most likely to freeze. Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, but temperatures usually have to be lower than that to freeze plumbing. Keep an eye out for signs of frozen plumbing when it gets below 20 degrees outside. These signs include faucets that aren’t working, faucets that make strange sounds when you try to use them, and foul smells coming from your drains.
When it does get cold enough to freeze plumbing, open the cabinets underneath your kitchen and bathroom sinks to expose the pipes in them to flowing air. Turn your faucets on to a trickle to keep water moving through your pipes. Flowing water is less likely to freeze, even when it’s only trickling. Don’t worry about how this will affect your water bill, either. You might notice a slight increase, but it won’t be nearly as expensive as a leaking or burst pipe will be.
If you’re going to be away from home for a while during the winter, keep your heat on and your thermostat set at no less than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Nobody will be around to complain about your house being that cold, but it will still be warm enough to keep your plumbing from freezing.
Call Fox Heating, Cooling & Plumbing for Assistance
At the very least, a frozen pipe is an inconvenience that makes it harder to use your faucets. At their worst, they can burst and cause thousands of dollars’ worth of damage. It constitutes a plumbing emergency, so don’t hesitate to call Fox Heating, Cooling & Plumbing for assistance if you suspect that one or more of your pipes are frozen. We are an HVAC and plumbing company that serves Wheat Ridge, CO and the surrounding areas, and we are available for plumbing repairs. We also offer a range of HVAC services, sewer line services, and many other services that will help keep your home safe and comfortable throughout the year.
To learn more about our services or to schedule any plumbing or HVAC services for your home, call Fox Heating, Cooling & Plumbing in Wheat Ridge today.
