Don’t Let Burst Pipes Ruin Your Winter
With winter about to explode into full gear, it is important to think about your pipes and potential damages that could occur as a result of the weather. One of the worst experiences any homeowner can deal with it having a frozen pipe that bursts. This not only will affect the heating in your home but can also burst and lead to major problems.
There are several tell-tale signs that homeowners can watch out for to prevent this from ever happening to them. When in doubt, contact your local plumber to come and check things out for you before it gets really bad.
Your Water Stream is Uneven
A definite red flag should be raised if there seems to be a problem with the flow of water out of your faucets. If you notice a slow trickle of water or no water at all, there is a good chance that the water pipe leading to the faucet may be frozen. The tricky part for homeowners is recognizing this as an issue.
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Many people may have common problems with their plumbing and not notice a drastic change. But, if this is happening when the weather is cold, air on the side of caution and contact a plumber to locate where the pipes might be affected and address the problem.
The Outside of The Pipe is Frosted Over
It is important that when the weather changes to frigid temperatures, homeowners check on exposed pipes. These are typically found in attics, crawl spaces, and unheated garages. Any sign of frost is an indication that the pipes are frozen or soon will be.
When this happens, shut off the water supply to the area where the frost is located and then open a few faucets to let some water trickle out. This trickling out will relieve some of the pressure in the pipes. Homeowners should place a space heater or a hairdryer around the affected pipes to thaw it out.
Have plenty of towels handy in the event that the pipes do burst. Many times you may not see the crack until the pipes have been defrosted. If you are unsure of what lies underneath the frost, you should call a plumber to take care of thawing the pipes for you as well as making any necessary repairs.
Hot Water Is Only Coming Out Cold
Another sign that your pipes could be frozen is that you experience unwanted cold water, even more than usual! If it takes a long time for warm water to come flowing out, that is an indication that something could be wrong.
If you are expecting high-temperature water and it doesn’t happen, there is a chance that the flowing water is being mixed with formed icicles inside of the pipes. If you’ve inspected your water heater and see no ice buildup there, the problem could be deeper inside your plumbing system. Since it will be hard to locate where the icicles could be located, it is best if you call a plumber to check things out for you.
About Dr Rooter
Dr Rooter is a full-service plumbing company that can handle specialized plumbing jobs that other companies cannot handle, like burst pipe repairs. Their technicians will provide an accurate diagnosis to tell you exactly what is wrong while advising you on the most cost-effective options available.