The temperatures are dropping and it’s the arrival of winter. The winter brings in a lot of fond memories along with something grave to consider. Extreme cold temperatures can take a toll on the plumbing systems in a house. Most homeowners have found themselves in a dilemma when they have to go through the tough situation: frozen pipes. Think of a situation when you open the pipe and alas! There is no water! The frozen pipes have been a nightmare for almost a major section of the population.
When do the pipes start to freeze?
As we all know, as the temperature starts dipping, the water starts freezing. When the temperature hits 7C or lower, the water in the pipes starts expanding thereby causing it to crack or break. Always be aware of the weather forecast at the earliest in order to take precautions against frozen pipes. Once the temperature starts going down, it will only take six consecutive hours for the pipes to freeze. Exterior pipes are more vulnerable when compared to interior pipes. Pipes that aren’t insulated tend to freeze faster than insulated pipes.
Why do the frozen pipes burst or crack?
The pipes start freezing when there is a sudden dip in normal temperature. When the climate reaches below freezing temperatures, the water present inside the pipes starts crystallizing turning to ice. When the frozen water expands and exerts pressure on the pipes, there is a tendency for the pipes to develop a crack or break. But this exactly is not the reason. Things go out of the hand when the frozen water starts obstructing the pipe, hindering the water flow. This creates additional pressure within the pipes adding a bulge and leading to permanent damage.
Water pipes susceptible to freezing
The water pipes that are installed outside the house are more prone to freezing during the peak of winter. Few exterior pipes that are affected the most are:
External pipes: the water pipes that run outside the house, like the ones that are used for gardening, or farm irrigation are the ones that are affected the most when the outside temperature drops below sub-zero.
Pipes in the attic, garage, and basement: Pipes in these areas are merely insulated and thus are exposed to cold temperatures. They do not receive adequate heating or insulation when compared to other areas of the house.
Finding and fixing frozen pipe problems:
The prime criteria included in the guidelines to safeguard pipes are to monitor the conditions that lead to the freezing of the pipes and also inspect them regularly for any defects.
How do you find out if there are frozen pipes in your home?
Detecting the presence of frozen pipes is a huge task but this is of utmost importance in this notorious weather. Earlier the detection, earlier the prevention. There are a few things to note when you are checking for the presence of frozen pipes:
-
- Check for any bulges or cracks on the pipe.
- Check for residues of ice or crystallized ice over the pipes.
- Check for any clanking, whistling, thumping, or banging noises from within the pipes.
- Check for the reduced flow of water or zero flow of water.
If the pipes running closer to the walls have an undetected leak, this can easily be identified by the reduced water pressure. If the pipe is thawed, you can check the walls or floor closest to the pipes. This shows signs of moisture.
If there are alarming issues, do not hesitate to contact a plumber immediately.
Locating the frozen pipes:
With constant monitoring and patience, you will easily be able to locate where the frozen pipe is. A frozen pipe left unattended for a long time will eventually crack. It’s always best to contact a plumber to get the job done immediately.
- Monitoring the exposed pipes
As mentioned, the exposed pipes are the ones that are easily prone to freezing temperature. Before you proceed further check if you can see patches of ice or ice blocks in the hose pipes or external pipes. Also, check the pipes for any bulge near the affected shower or faucet.
- Analyze the scope of the problem
Now that you’re sure it’s not the pipes outside, go inside and check the faucets and fixtures. You need to figure out which pipes are working and which aren’t.Check each faucet one at a time to see which one isn’t working.
- Identifying the exact location
Once you have identified the particular pipe that has undergone the damage, you can inspect the exact location where the freezing has taken place. You can check for any difference in the temperature on the walls close to the pipe that’s is frozen.
How to handle the frozen pipe issues
Thawing
Thawing is not a reliable method at all times. Though thawing can help melt the ice, there are certain limitations. During the freezing temperature, we can’t wait for the thawing to take place because as time passes, the complexity increases thereby causing the pipe to burst. The situation is alarming and thus expert advice from plumbing professionals is necessary.
The ultimate guide to thawing:
Apply direct heat:
Unless the frozen pipe is exposed, this would not be a problem.Risks exist until the frozen pipe is identified. The best solution is to remove the walls first and then deal with the frozen pipe. If the frozen pipe is located inside the walls, it is always better to take the walls down first. Once you have found a way to expose the pipes prone to freeze, you can apply direct heat to the pipe and thaw it.
A few of the types of equipment that are used to provide direct heat for thawing are electric heating pads, a hairdryer, automatic rubber insulated heat tapes, etc.
Thermostat:
After detecting the frozen pipe, the best method is to thaw the pipe by turning on the temperature of the thermostat. This mostly works for the pipes that are inside your home and doesn’t work much on the pipes that are outdoors.
Infrared lamp:
The infrared lamp is more effective in providing direct heat. Once you’ve located the location of the frozen pipe, you may use the infrared light to efficiently defrost it. An infrared light placed near the thermostat is quite efficient at thawing frozen pipes inside.
When to call the plumber?
When you find it difficult to spot the location of the frozen pipe
If you are unsure about the thawing procedures.
If there is a requirement for pipes to be replaced immediately because the pipes have crossed their shelf life.
The plumbers with their specialized tools and expertise can help fix frozen pipes safely and quickly.