What to Do When Your Pipes Freeze from Winter Weather
With winter comes cold weather, and with cold weather comes frozen pipes—a common issue for homeowners during the winter months in the eastern and northern states, but not typically something we have to deal with here in the greater Houston and Fort Bend County area. However, after some fairly severe freezing temperatures the last couple of years, it’s important to know what to do if your pipes freeze because a bursted pipe can cause extensive damage to your home. This blog post will cover the steps you should take if you find yourself facing this problem.
Identifying Frozen Pipes
The most important thing is to identify frozen pipes as soon as possible. If the water pressure in your house is reduced or there is no water coming out of your faucets at all, it may mean that one of your pipes has frozen and needs attention immediately. Other signs include frost on the outside of a pipe, odd noises when running hot or cold water, or if a section of pipe feels cool to the touch.
Thawing Out Frozen Pipes
Once you have identified that a pipe is frozen, you must quickly thaw it out before it bursts. You can do this by either using a blow dryer or an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, but be careful not to overheat it! You can also try turning up the heat in your home and opening cabinets where pipes are located so that warm air gets circulated around them. If none of these methods work, call a professional plumber right away.
Inspecting For Damage
If you successfully thawed out the pipe without bursting it open, make sure to inspect for any cracks or leaks after everything has been restored back to normal. Also check for any mold growth due to moisture in case some water had already leaked before freezing occurred. If you notice any damage, contact a plumber as soon as possible so they can repair or replace whatever was affected by the burst pipe before further damage occurs.
Conclusion
Frozen pipes are an unfortunate winter issue that can occur to many homeowners, even us down in here in good ole’ Houston Texas, so knowing what steps to take when identifying and dealing with them is key in preventing major damage from occurring in your home. By following these tips and calling a professional if needed, you will be better prepared if ever faced with this problem again! And if you find yourself in this unfortunate predicament, please let us know and we would be glad to help. We have a loyal team of local professionals ready to help and serve.