5 min read
As winter arrives and the weather turns frigid, we focus on keeping ourselves and our loved ones warm and cozy inside our homes. We do this by keeping the heaters on and staying indoors unless it’s necessary to step out in the cold. But while you’re in bed underneath warm blankets and enjoying some hot coco, a plumbing crisis could be brewing silently in your home and damaging your pipes without you even knowing.
We are, of course, talking about dreaded frozen pipes. Even though frozen pipes are quite common in places that experience harsh winters, it still catches many people off-guard. Frozen pipes can escalate into a major plumbing emergency and flood your home, among other things.
Want to learn more about frozen pipes, how they occur, and the potential impact they can have on your home? In this blog, we uncover everything you need to know.
How Frozen Pipes Come About
Water pipes constantly have water in them. This isn’t a problem during the warmer months because water can flow freely from the source and out of your faucets and water fixtures. Unfortunately, in winter, the drop in temperature can freeze the water inside your pipes. This is why exterior pipes in places that experience freezing winters require insulation. It is one of the many techniques used in construction to prevent water pipes from freezing.
What Happens When Your Pipes Freeze?
Water expands as it freezes, taking up more space the colder the temperature gets. If there’s a lot of water inside a pipe, there’s a greater risk that the ice will expand beyond the pipe’s capacity to hold.
But the expanding ice isn’t the only problem. Immense pressure also builds up as the water freezes, pressing on the inner walls and compromising their structural integrity. If the ice continues to expand, the pipes can crack or split even if they’re not entirely frozen solid inside.
Broken pipes are a big problem in and of themselves. Extracting the damaged pipes and replacing them with new ones can be expensive. However, an even bigger problem looms once winter ends and the weather gets hotter. As the warmer climate melts the ice, water will leak through the cracks and breaks, causing all kinds of damage to your property:
- Damaged furniture and gadgets due to sudden indoor flooding
- Water damage like discoloration, warping, and rot on wood
- Microbial growth resulting in mold and mildew
- Termites, carpenter ants, and other insects appear in your home, attracted to the damp wood
The severity of water damage depends on how damaged the pipes are and how much ice has formed. The worst-case scenario is a massive volume of water melts overnight, so water gushes through the cabinetry where the sink is and floods your kitchen or bathroom. Thawing exterior pipes can also burst, turning your yard into a muddy swamp.
How to Unthaw Frozen Pipes
Damage from burst pipes can be avoided by preventing freezing in winter. Using heat tape, installing sufficient insulation around exposed pipes, and closing water valves supplying water to outdoor hoses can help prevent pipes from freezing.
But what happens if they freeze despite your precautions? Here’s what you can do:
- Find out which pipe is frozen by turning on the faucets around your house. If little to no water comes out, it’s highly likely that the pipe feeding that faucet has frozen.
- Shut off the main water supply to prevent more water from entering the pipes and worsening the problem.
- If the frozen pipe leads to a faucet concealed in cabinetry, open the cabinet doors to allow the warm air to circulate and slowly thaw the pipe.
- You may also use a hair dryer on the exposed or visible section of the pipe underneath the sink or along the basement wall or ceiling.
- Alternatively, you can place a heating lamp or space heater near the frozen pipes. Keep these heat sources at least six inches from the pipes to prevent further damage, this time due to heat. NEVER use open flames to thaw pipes.
- Thaw section by section, starting from the area closest to the faucet.
- Turn on the faucet periodically to check if water starts flowing. This is a sign that your pipe is thawing nicely. Continue indirectly applying heat until you reach the last section of the pipe.
- As the ice melts, check the pipes carefully for leaks. If you discover a large leak or too much water gushes out of your faucet, turn off the main water supply and call a licensed plumber for assistance.
Tips on How to Fix Frozen Pipes
After thawing out your pipes and draining the ice melt, you might discover that your pipes have been damaged and need repairs. Here’s what you can do:
- Locate the cracks and seal them with epoxy putty, waterproof tape, or slick wrap for water pipes.
- Reduce the water pressure from the main water supply and gradually increase it to the normal range to see if your DIY repairs will hold.
- Dry all areas that had gotten damp due to the leaks. This is crucial if your pipes are attached to drywall, concrete, and other surfaces where mold can grow. If microbial growth does happen, fungi and bacteria might penetrate the pipe and contaminate the water.
- Hire a licensed plumber to inspect, seal, and repair the damaged pipe if necessary.
Minimize the Impact of Frozen Pipes with Help from Restoration 1
While it’s helpful to know what happens when your pipes freeze and how to fix frozen pipes, the best solution for this issue is, of course, to call professionals. With decades of experience, Restoration 1 of North Georgia should be top of mind if your pipes freeze or burst in winter. Our expert team is highly trained, well-equipped, and ready to assist with emergencies 24/7.
Fill out our contact form and our customer service team will get back to you ASAP.
