The risk of having a frozen pipe issue increases as soon as the winter season arrives. If you live in cold areas that experience low temperatures and snowfall during winter, you have a high chance of experiencing freezing water in your pipes.
Frozen pipes can cause many problems with the water supply and the central heating system of your house. They can severely damage your pipes and ruin your drainage system if not resolved promptly.
Let’s walk through the most common causes of frozen pipes and how to identify and tackle them.
The water inside pipes tends to freeze when the surrounding temperature drops below the freezing point of 0℃ during winter. People living in cold areas need to be extra cautious. They should ensure their houses are heated enough to prevent the water from freezing.
Another reason why this happens is the poor insulation of pipes. If you have no insulation system to keep your pipes warm, they will surely drop in temperature and freeze. Keeping your thermostat at a low temperature can also be a cause. Therefore, keep your thermostat as high as possible so the air in your house stays warm.
Here are some signs that you might have frozen pipes or they are at risk of freezing:
If the water from your house’s faucets is extremely cold, this might be a sign that the water in your pipes is about to freeze. It is normal to have very cold running water during winter, but if you notice that the water is way colder than it usually is, then it is certain that the water is about to freeze in your pipes. Contact emergency plumbing services asap.
If you notice tiny crystals of ice or frost on the outside surface of your pipes, this means that the water inside those pipes is completely frozen. Also, the water is so low in temperature that it is causing condensation on the surface of the pipes to freeze as well.
These are some significant problems your residential or commercial spaces might experience if you have frozen pipes:
One of the most dangerous problems is the bursting of pipes. Pipes can burst if the water inside them is frozen because as water freezes, it can notably expand in size, exerting pressure on the pipes from the inside, causing them to burst. This problem damages your pipes and can cost a lot of money to repair. This scenario is chaotic too because a lot of the water can flow out of the hole and destroy other items around it. In short, your space can experience a mini flood.
Another problem is that the ice inside the pipes can block the flow of the other liquid water. Blockage of water flow means that all sources, such as faucets, taps, and laundry machines will have no water available. The ice inside can also make the other water freeze as well, ruining the situation even more.
As the pipes burst, the water flowing out of them can reach outlets and other running electrical appliances around your house and cause a short circuit. The water can destroy your electrical appliances and completely shut off electricity in your house. It may also lead to a fire hazard.
Besides electrical outlets, the water flowing from the cracks in the pipes caused by ice can also damage the walls, ceilings, and basically every place your pipes run through in your spaces. This damage can get worse if unnoticed and can be very expensive to repair.
Here is a list of practical ways to prevent freezing pipes:
Installing a proper insulation system for your pipes and around your house can prevent the water in pipes from freezing and keep them warm. Make sure the insulation is of good quality and long-lasting and won’t stop working after some time. Even if you have an insulation system installed, always get it checked to see if it still does its job correctly. Regular maintenance is important.
Besides insulating the pipes, you can also prevent frozen pipes by keeping your house properly heated and maintaining a warm temperature at all times. You need to keep all the heaters switched on when it’s too cold outside and open the doors of warm rooms such as the kitchen or bathroom cabinets to circulate warm air. Ensure to keep your thermostat at a temperature higher than 14℃ or 55℉. Any temperature below that may come with a risk of frozen pipes.
Now we will take a look at some ways to safely thaw frozen pipes if you ever experience this problem:
Frozen pipes can be a headache, but you don’t need to worry if you follow all the precautions. If you ever come across this problem, call the emergency plumbing services as soon as possible.
At Plumbing Services Rockford, we have a team of highly trained plumbers who have plenty of experience dealing with frozen pipes and will always be ready to help you at any time of the day. Call us today for quality plumbing services!