Winter brings with it a great number of pesky problems, other than falling temperatures and snow. Icy roads, frozen walkways, and frozen pipes in house are just some things that occur during a cold spell. Frozen pipes can be a real issue for homeowners in Toronto.
Frozen pipes in your home can be a serious issue. It can lead to such problems as burst pipes and leaks or even house fires. In the following article, we will discuss what to do if you experience frozen pipes before you enlist the help of plumbers Toronto.
How to Thaw Frozen Pipes in House
Follow these steps on how to fix frozen pipes:
- Locate the frozen pipe
Obviously, the first step in thawing a frozen pipe is to determine where it is. Start by turning on every faucet. If there is just a small trickle of water or none at all, one of the pipes that leads to that faucet is most likely frozen.
You should be able to detect a frozen pipe by a slight bulge in the pipes. Moreover, you may notice frost formed on the pipe in question.
- Open the faucet
The first step to thaw frozen pipes in house is to open the faucet. This includes both the hot and cold faucets in order to relieve any built-up pressure in the piping system and allow water to start flowing once the pipe has thawed.
- Try thawing exposed frozen pipes using one of these methods:
**Start the process toward the faucet and then work toward the blockage. This ensures that the steam and melted ice will escape through the faucet so it will not get stuck in the pipes and cause them to burst.
- Hot Towels
Wrap towels that have been dipped in water around the exposed pipe to help thaw the frozen pipe.
- Electrical Heating Tape
Applying electrical heating tape directly to the pipe will distribute heat evenly throughout the pipe. Electrical heating tape may be purchased that shuts off by itself or that requires to be plugged in and unplugged when needed.
- Hair Dryer
This is perhaps the easiest method to defrost frozen pipes in house. Point the hairdryer at the pipe, starting with the area nearest the faucet. Take care that you do not come in contact with water when using the hairdryer.
- Portable Heater/Heat Lamp
Using a heat lamp or portable space heaters can also help to thaw frozen pipes in house. By positioning the heater or heat lamp so it reaches the frozen pipe, it should help it to thaw rather quickly. Always take safety precautions and do not use a heating device near water.
Ways to Prevent Frozen Pipes in House
- Do not turn off the heat
- Do not close interior doors in your home
- Let the faucets have a slow drip
- Additional insulation in the home
- Seal/Caulk or repair any holes
Contact a plumber for assistance if you are unable to locate the frozen pipe, if any of the above methods do not thaw the pipe, or if you are unable to safely reach the blockage. Call a plumber immediately if the pipe bursts.
If you are having problems with frozen pipes in house, contact the expert staff at Drain Com. We can assist you with frozen, damaged, or leaky pipes as well as any other plumbing issues.
