What To Do When Your Pipes Freeze? Learn Simple Tips!

During the winter, when you feel the tap going “Whoosh” but no water gushes out of it, you might have asked the question to yourself.” What to do when your pipes FREEZE?”

Right now, the environment may not be attempting to play with your water supply. But, that doesn’t mean you can let it be with ignorance. If you are building your house then the priority should be set in using the perfect pipes and plumbing mechanisms to keep your house water supply from freezing in the cold. Furthermore, adding some insulations from the start will keep away the fear of having to face this problem in the future.

Despite all the preventive measures, sometimes the cold winter conquers all fate, and you still find yourself in that position of asking the same question.

What to do When Your Pipes Freeze?

So, it has come to this. The water pipes have frozen and you are in complete scarcity of it. The best option for you will be to call the plumber. But before that, your common sense kicks in and you explore the plumbings to see what and how did it happen? The cold winter did it. But let’s face the reality and follow these tips.

Turn Off the Main Water Supply

As soon as you find out that the pipe has frozen, you should rush to the main water supply and shut it down. Less the water, less the damage. Since, the ice inside might crack holes in your pipe, which may result in bursts and flooding in your house. To keep things dry and prevent the worst, you should remember to jump to this step.

Insulate the Exposed Pipes

With electric wires or simply, newspapers, cover the exposed pipes outside the house for insulation. It will prevent the condition from getting any worse.

Exploration

Now that you have prevented the explosion, you have to analyze the state of the pipe. Can you do it yourself, or have to call the plumber?

The answer would be, you first have to go through the basics to try and melt the frozen ice inside. And if you don’t want to take any risks, then you can call the plumber straight away.

If you have decided to take the action yourself, then you get to the next step.

Applying some Heat

With some amount of heat, you are to thaw the frozen ice inside the water pipe. For that, you will need some tools. If you have it at home, you can use a hairdryer or Space heater. Otherwise, you can simply insulate the pipe with hot water and hope for the best. While heating you can simply warm the area around the pipe if the source is hot enough. Or apply the heat directly on the pipe and observe it carefully and not leave it unattended.

If you got the idea of heating with some heavy fire of propane, kerosene, or blowtorch, then wrap that image in your mind and throw it out the window. You will bring heavy damage not only to the pipe but your whole property with a high risk of Fire.

Check To See if it Unfroze

If you succeeded with the process, then slowly the ice inside will start to stream out through the faucet. So, while the heating takes place, remember to check the tap too. Once it starts to flow in a small stream, you can rest assured and calm down. Now, you don’t have to make an appointment with the plumber.

Now will be a good time to turn on the water supply, as it will help to move the melting ice from inside the pipe.

Make Sure to Check for any Cracks and Leaks

You will find that the water now starts to flow through the faucet, as slowly the blockade is tended to. Then, you will have to check for the cracks and any damages that could be causing leaks. The edgy ice inside could have done it, and if you don’t look for it, then the pores that now are unnoticeable might get bigger and start to leak all over.

That’s about it for, “What To Do When Your Pipes Freeze?”.

Before You Go Back To Splashing

Freezing Pipes are the most happening problems that occur in very cold places and during extreme climate, it can happen in moderate ones too. Sometimes it just does. It can cause quite an accident with the sharp burst of pipes that could have been passed on like nothing. When that explosive burst takes place, it can cause heavy damage not just to your property but also to life. Many news has been heard about injuries from these frozen-pipe incidents.

So, when you find out that you have got that pipe freeze, and it looks to be a rather complicated issue, it is best to call for your plumber. But if it is a minor case, you can help yourself and get rewarded with warm water with these tips on, “What to do when your pipes freeze”.

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