Frozen Pipes? What to Do Before You Need Major Plumbing Repair

How can this happen? It appears that cold temperatures have resulted in frozen pipes! The damage has not been assessed, but what should be done to remedy the problem?

Frozen Pipes and Burst Lines: How to Avoid Emergency Plumbing Repair

Water will begin to freeze at 32 degrees, of course, but much is done to prevent pipes from freezing. For this reason, the temperature must drop to approximately 20 degrees for a solid enough freeze to cause pipes to burst. At that temperature, the water will expand by about 9%, and the pressure will be sufficient to split the pipe material.

Pipes typically burst when:

• Unprotected pipes are exposed to low temperatures long enough for the water to freeze solid
• The furnace fails
• The home loses power during periods of low temperatures.

From Frozen Faucets to Plumbing Repair: How to Spot and Manage Winter Pipe Damage

It is important to know there is a difference between frozen pipes and burst pipes. It may take time to determine whether the frozen water has caused damage. Signs that water has frozen include:

• Frost or ice on a supply line
• Low or no water pressure at a faucet or water-using appliance.

If you discover or suspect that water has frozen in pipes, be patient and take the following steps.

First Steps: Outage

If the power goes out during extreme cold, there are some steps to take to prevent frozen or bursting pipes.

• Open the cabinets below sinks to expose the supply water lines to the warmth of the home as long as possible. Make sure that any alternative heating method is vented and safe.
• Turn faucets on at just a trickle, since it takes moving water much longer to freeze.
• If you must evacuate the home, turn the water supply valve to the OFF position and leave the faucets open.

Upon restoring power and discovering low or no water pressure, patiently wait for the home to return to the proper temperature, then take the following steps.

• Try each faucet to locate the potential frozen area.
• Turn the faucets off
• Listen for water leaking or dripping
• Watch for wet spots on the walls and ceilings, and puddles that might seep from under walls

Thawing and leaking water might take a couple of days to manifest, so keep watching.

Winterizing Unprotected Pipes: Proactive Steps to Avoid Costly Plumbing Repair

If sections of your water supply lines are installed in unconditioned space, there are steps that can be taken to avoid frozen pipes:

• Wrap these pipes in a UL-approved heat tape—a wire that wraps around the pipe, using resistance to generate heat. 
• Then wrap the pipes in fiberglass insulation with a foil coating to protect them from the cold, with the heat tape inside.

If the pipes are unprotected, exposed to extreme cold temperatures, and you suspect that the pipe has frozen, take the following steps

• If possible, raise the temperature in the vicinity of the suspected pipe
• If it is not possible to warm the space, use a common hair dryer to warm the suspected section of pipe. Do not use anything with an open flame, since this can melt solder.
• Listen for water leaking or dripping
• Watch for wet spots on the walls and ceiling in the vicinity of the suspected frozen section. Watch for a puddle that might seep out from under walls.
• Thawing and leaking water might take a couple of days to manifest, so keep watching.

If your pipe(s) have frozen and burst, turn off the water supply at the shutoff valve, call the plumber, and clean up the water.

Prevent Disaster with Professional Winter Plumbing Repair

Don’t wait for a devastating burst pipe to realize your home’s water lines were unprotected against the Houston freeze. Taking proactive steps now can save you from the stress and massive expense of emergency plumbing repair caused by hidden water damage. Our licensed team specializes in winterizing your entire system, from insulating exposed lines to ensuring your shutoff valves are fully functional. Call Doctor Cool & Professor Heat  today at 281-516-5935 to schedule your plumbing repair and winterization appointment and ensure your home is ready for the coldest weather ahead.