During winters, frozen pipes are a
common issue. As soon as you see frozen pipes in your home, you must do
something to prevent them from bursting; otherwise a lot of damage can happen.
Damage may involve releasing of water in your home, destruction of possessions
and even structural damage. Such kind of damage could not be fixed by a plumber
even. Hence, it is advisable to keep in mind these tips to prevent frozen
pipes. These tips would help you save some bucks which you can spend on other
important things.
1.
Insulation
is Important
Most of the
pipes which freeze during winters are those which are fixed to the exterior
walls of the house. Such pipes must be properly insulated so that they can be a
bit warmer and hence prevented from freezing. Make sure that the insulation you
use is quite thick and you can take help with plumber services in Denver area.
2.
Seal
the Air Leaks
During winters,
the scariest thing is chilly winds. Freezing air is an expert is freezing the
pipes. So, it is advised that you seal the air leaks as much as possible. Your
interior as well as outdoor pipes should not be exposed to this outdoor air.
Not just the pipes themselves make sure that you check the gaps and cracks at
the entrance of the pipes as well.
3.
Turn
Off Outdoor Water Taps
The outdoor
water taps can put you in a disastrous situation in case the pipe between tap
and interior pipe bursts after freezing. Hence, keep them off as much as
possible.
4.
Keep
the Pipes Warm
The pipes in
your home must be warm. It is good to invest in heating maintenance for the
pipes so that you can get free-flow of water during winters. Maintaining proper
temperature for the pipes is equally important. You can always contact
professional plumbers if you don’t know what the appropriate temperature for
your area would be.
Fixing
a Frozen Pipe
Despite all prevention tips, your pipes
may freeze. The first signal that indicates your pipes have frozen is that
water is not coming out of your taps but your neighbours aren’t facing this
kind of trouble. Here are some tips that you should follow once this happens:
1.
Stay
Calm
First and
foremost, a frozen pipe doesn’t mean that it would definitely burst. Hence,
keep calm.
2.
Turn
Off Main Valve and Locate Frozen Section
Turning off your
main valve is necessary as a precaution in case your pipe bursts. After turning
it off, the next thing you need to do is to locate the section that has frozen.
This section could be identified by checking the temperature of pipe. The
frozen section is generally colder.
3.
Warm
the Pipe
Using a
hair-dryer, you can warm the frozen area. Do not use open flame and in case you
aren’t sure, take help from plumber.
Once you have fixed the pipe on your
own, it is advisable to contact a professional plumber for further guidance.
