What to do if Your Pipes Burst and How to Prevent It.

Freezing weather can wreak havoc on your plumbing. When the temperature drops below 32 degrees, your pipes stand a chance of bursting due to the frozen water expanding. This, of course, can lead to flooding and damage to your home and property. Pipes in attics, crawl spaces, garages, and next to exterior walls are prone to bursting.

While it may seem like we’re out of the woods for most of the country, here in CT we can still get below freezing for a good part of spring. So we thought we’d pass along some DIY tips to help you prevent and fix burst or leaking pipes.

Prevention 

- The night before a deep freeze, wrap vulnerable pipes in insulation or old newspapers, covering the newspaper with plastic to reduce moisture. This will act as a blanket and keep the chill out.

- Locate the faucet farthest from your water meter and allow a trickle of water to run from the cold side. This simple task will keep the water flowing so it will not freeze, and will help to relieve the pressure if it happens to do so.

- If possible, provide your pipes with access to warm air. Open cabinets or doors from areas that are heated and let that warm air hit the pipes. A little warmth can go a long way.

Solution

- If you turn on your faucet after a particularly cold night and nothing but a trickle comes out (or nothing at all) you have a frozen pipe. It’s important to keep the faucet open while you treat the problem.

- Apply heat to the section of pipe that is frozen. Use towels soaked in warm water, a heating pad, or a hair dryer (avoid if there is standing water). Never use a blowtorch, kerosene, or anything with an open flame to thaw your pipes. This can cause explosion and/or the release of dangerous and lethal carbon monoxide.

- Only apply heat until the pressure is restored. Overheating can damage your pipes and lead to future problems. If there is damage, or you require assistance, call a plumber immediately.

Although we hope this never happens to anyone, applying any or all of these solutions/applications can help save you the cost of a very hefty plumbing bill.

For more information, please contact us any time.