You turn on the faucet of your bathroom sink to get a drink of water and there’s no water. Flush the toilet and it doesn’t refill. If it’s winter, those are some of the signs of frozen pipes. Frozen pipes can be a big problem, especially if a pipe burst because, when it thaws, you could have a geyser of water that will cause water damage, mold and mildew.
Your Brooklyn plumbing experts at Petri Plumbing & Heating have some tips on how to prevent your pipes from freezing and how to fix them if they freeze. That being said, it’s always best to call us to take care of frozen and potentially burst pipes in order to protect your home!
First, protect your pipes from freezing in areas that may be chilly to downright cold, such as in attics, basements, crawl spaces, garages or in outside walls. Any pipe that may be exposed to freezing temperatures must be insulated. We offer those services. When it gets really cold outside, open up the cabinet doors under sinks to let in warm air and let the water trickle slowly from faucets to keep it moving.
If only one fixture stopped working, the freeze is close to that fixture. If nothing in the house works, the freeze is somewhere in the water line supplying your house. You have two main hazards with frozen and potentially burst pipes: flooding your house or burning it down. Never try to thaw pipes with a torch or open flame. You should know where the main shutoff valve is in your house — it’s near the water meter — and go turn the water off. Crank up the thermostat to get the house toasty. Then call us.
Frozen pipes typically have frost on the outside and may have a slight bulge. Check to see if the bulge is a break. If the pipe is split, we will replace that section of pipe.
If you find the frozen section and it’s in an accessible location such as under a sink, open both the hot and cold sides of the faucet to relieve pressure in the system and give water someplace to go once the pipe starts thawing. If the frozen pipe is inside the wall and you have a pretty good idea where it is, you can get an infrared lamp and aim it at that spot on the wall. Calling us is always a better idea because we’ll likely have to open up the wall to locate and thaw the frozen spot.
Petri Plumbing offers Brooklyn homeowners and landlords complete home inspection services that include checking your pipes for potential freezing and recommending ways to prevent it. Call us at (718) 748-1254 to handle your frozen or burst pipe problems. We’re here for you 24 hours a day.
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