What Not to do if You Have Frozen Pipes
First of all, and this is the most important – don’t panic! Frozen pipes can affect you, even when you’re not expecting it, they rarely announce a warning, the first you’ll know is a leak or no water (depending on what part of your system is frozen).
Heat
Contrary to what you may think, we would always advise never just to crank the heat up in your home if you’ve noticed that your pipes are frozen. Although relatively strong, water pipes can’t generally match the force of expanding ice – it will quite often rupture the pipe or break a connection. Inspect the pipework first for any damage – water is awfully difficult to contain when it’s spraying out of a pipe.
Expect
Many people fall in to the trap of thinking that because they have seen no water leaking anywhere, that the pipes are all OK and there is nothing to worry about. However, because the pipes are frozen, you may not see water until it’s too late – don’t expect everything to be fine and OK.
Waiting
Don’t wait for the inevitable – in two respects ; don’t wait for the water to thaw out, call a plumber out to inspect your pipes while everything is dry and don’t wait to see how bad things get over winter – why not take preventative steps with your plumbing while you’re still in summer. A good plumber will be able to give you advice on what should be protected.
To discuss any worries you have about your plumbing – from frozen pipes to difficult water heaters, talk to one of the friendly experts at Reichelt Plumbing today. We are always happy to give professional and friendly advice about any plumbing problem.
Contact us online or call us at (219) 322-4906 to schedule an appointment.