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Many people dread the winter months. Apart from low light, colder temperatures, and seasonal sadness, property owners must also be concerned about frozen pipes. Frozen pipes are a typical occurrence during the winter season. This is especially true if you reside in a region subject to severe weather conditions.
United Water Restoration Group of Stamford is here to help you get back on track with our informative blog post about freezing pipes. We will share tips and tricks that can save time, money, or damage in this situation so read more!
The majority of pipe freezes happen in the winter. Water may freeze at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, although pipes are typically kept away from outside influences. This is only to a certain extent, though. When the outside temperatures fall below 20 degrees, pipes can become frozen.
The outside temperature has a massive impact on frozen pipes. Freezing happens when water contracts too quickly and stops moving, which can be caused by anything from lack of maintenance or aging pipe systems that aren’t up-to-date with current technology for managing cold weather conditions.
Although it’s improbable that your pipes will be frozen in a matter of seconds, minutes, or even hours, they can take anywhere from 6 to 8 hours to do so. The length of time it takes for pipes to freeze varies depending on the weather outside, the age of your pipes, and other variables.
Your pipes can freeze overnight without you ever noticing until you try to turn on a faucet at your property. Pipes will have to face at least 6 consecutive hours of this weather in order to experience a full freeze. Again, there are other factors that may speed up or slow the process down.
If you try switching a faucet on at home, you may notice whether your pipes are frozen. If the water isn’t coming out or is flowing slowly, the pipe might have burst or become frozen. Frozen pipes don’t always result in an immediate burst pipe; however, it’s best to get help from a professional plumber.
When there is standing water or flooding, it’s an easy mistake to assume that a frozen or burst pipe is the source. You should call a plumbing company as soon as possible in this situation. If you’re able to unfreeze the pipes on your own, do so, but seeking professional help is usually the safer option. Signs of a broken pipe include discoloration on ceilings and walls, unusual smells, and the sound of running water.
Is it true that a pipe will inevitably burst if it freezes over? No. To put it another way, if you don’t use your faucet often, you reduce the danger of a pipe bursting. The materials used in the manufacture of your pipes also have an impact. Copper piping is the most prone to rupture or break down. PVC or PEX pipes are somewhat more resilient at lower temperatures than copper pipes.
Even though these pipes are unlikely to burst, ice can obstruct or damage them. Water freezing on the system and forming blocks is what causes this type of blockage.
Your pipes may thaw by themselves over time and weather conditions permitting. However, waiting for this outcome at the risk of having the pipes burst. If you decide to wait, the frozen water in the pipe will stay and thaw. However, if the ice grew to such a size that it damaged the pipe, even worse damage may occur if the pipe bursts. Allowing your piping to thaw on its own also raises new pressure as the ice melts away. This greater pressure might cause these frozen pipes to break spectacularly quickly. Making your problem considerably more difficult to resolve.
If you don’t thaw your pipes fast enough, the ice can obstruct them and lead to costly problems. In this case, you should seek help from a professional firm. They can safely freeze your pipes and guarantee that no hidden leaks occur.
It is strongly advised that you call a plumbing business to assist you. There are, however, precautions that should be taken to safely thaw or warm a frozen pipe in the Stamford, Connecticut area. While some people would want to use fire immediately, this is not the best option. Holding a lighter or source of fire up against your frozen pipes might cause them to burst. Heating the location with fire causes them to become unstable and prone to breakage.
If your pipes need to be thawed, you should utilize the following tools to assist you:
Portable Heaters – These handy devices can quickly and efficiently heat up an area. They’re great for safely warming pipes, as long they are away from any flammable materials and the distance between the heater and other surroundings is 5-10 feet in distance.
Hairdryer – Heating up a pipe with the help of an electric hairdryer is safe and efficient. Simply make sure that you are far enough away so as not to damage any other parts in between!
Towels – Soaking towels in hot water and wrapping them around a frozen pipe can provide relief for the scope of freeze that’s on your line as well.
Infrared Lamp – A heat lamp can provide an ample amount of warm lighting that doesn’t overdo the temperature.
You can also use electric heating pads and cables to thaw out frozen pipes. While these items may help, they do cause problems as the ice begins its transformation into the water again- we highly recommend contacting a plumbing company before trying any of these on your own!
There are a few methods for keeping your home’s pipes from icing over and bursting. While these events might be unavoidable under certain conditions, there are still things you can do to lower your chances. Here are some suggestions for preventing your pipes from freezing:
When cabinets are closed under your kitchen sink, it can cause the pipes to be at risk. The warmer air doesn’t flow into these spaces and this could lead you to a freezing problem in wintertime! Most homes with freestanding sinks have them attached directly onto walls so they’re more susceptible to the cold than other designs.
Water is important for pipes to stay warm. If you’re running water continuously, it will not cause your drains clear and can help protect against a pipe freeze-up at the property.
When you are expecting a cold night, it’s important to disconnect all hoses outside of your house so that water doesn’t leak into the areas. A hose bib can prevent this from happening and cause damage not just for itself but also at home with pipes & spouts too!
When pipes are exposed to inclement weather, heat tape can help prevent freezing. This type of material is designed for fighting harsh temperatures. It may be easy enough if you know what you’re doing but also require some assistance in order to get done correctly.
If you can keep your property’s temperature from falling below 32 degrees, it will be easier for the pipes in that area. You should provide space heaters or insulation to protect these areas against freezing over and causing damage.
When pipes burst and standing water covers your house, it can be terrifying. However, no one should have to deal with this situation alone; calling for help as soon as possible will give you the peace of mind that comes a long way in such stressful times.
You may want to try and tackle this on your own, but it can cause even more damage. In a situation like that, you need professionals who know what they’re doing because it’s not worth the stress or trouble for someone like yourself trying to fix such things without help from an expert team!
United Water Restoration Group of Stamford is here for all your water damage needs. If you’ve experienced frozen pipes or flooding, our team can help get the job done quickly and efficiently so that no one will ever know what happened!
