Hey Hamilton! It won’t be long before you look out your window and see a winter wonderland outside. As far as plumbing goes, one of the biggest plumbing issues homeowners may face over the winter season is frozen pipes. Here at John THE Plumber we know how quickly damages can occur from frozen pipes, and are offering ideas for frozen pipe prevention and what you can try and do to remedy the situation should it actually happen.
Frozen Pipe Prevention: Insulate!
Water pipes that are located in attics, crawlspaces, cold basements, garages and any pipes that are located near the exterior walls of your home should have extra protection from cold temperatures in the Hamilton area. Go to your local hardware or home renovation store and purchase foam rubber insulation that is specifically designed for pipes. Wrap each pipe in the foam rubber insulation ensuring that there are no gaps between the pipe and the insulation. This is a little trickier around corner pipes; be patient and a bit creative, you can do it! Again watch for any gaps and you can use duct tape to help your cause.
What To Do If Your Pipes Freeze: Heat Them Up!
Pipes will often freeze after a steady few days of outdoor temperatures that are below freezing levels. Once you realize a pipe is frozen in your home and locate the exact area, you need to raise the temperature within that space. A good solution for this is to place a space heater in that area to warm the pipe(s); just make sure you don’t leave the heater unattended for long periods of time as they can present a fire hazard. Be sure to leave a faucet on so as the pipes thaw the water has a place to go.
Still Having Trouble? Give Us a Call!
This sometimes may only be a temporary fix; if at any time you are unsure of how bad the state of your frozen pipes actually are, don’t hesitate to give our Hamilton Plumbers a call. It’s important to understand that frozen pipes can turn out to be much more than an inconvenience. When water freezes it is capable of expanding by up to 10% of its normal volume. This can cause your pipes to crack or burst, and possibly cost you some expensive water damage repair bills.