The bitter cold of the winter is here, and just when you think it is starting to warm up again, it goes back to negative degrees. We are all just wishing for a warm 25-degree day, oppose to -3 degrees. This freezing weather not only sparks health issues such as frostbite or having a hard time breathing because of the thin air, but also risks to your home such as frozen pipes. What do you do if your pipes freeze?
How Do You Unfreeze Pipes Safely?
If you run into an issue where you realize your pipes are frozen, what do you do? Here are a few things that you can do to safely melt your pipes:
- Wrap heating cables around your pipes. They look like long extension cords and you will be able to wrap them around all of your exposed pipes. It can also be helpful to leave them plugged in during freezing conditions.
- Use a hair dryer to get the water flowing again. This trick doesn’t always work, especially on larger pipes, but if your kitchen or bathroom sink isn’t working, try taking out a hairdryer.
- Plug in your portable space heater right next to the frozen pipe. Be sure not to leave the heater unattended or near anything flammable.
- Apply heat with a heating pad or towels soaked in hot water. If you still cannot get the pipes to unfreeze, you may need to call a plumber.
What Should You NOT Do to Unfreeze Pipes?
There is a certain rush of fear that comes over us when we find out our pipes are frozen. We want to fix the problem right away, and not wait for something worse to happen. If your pipes freeze DO NOT use a blow torch to unfreeze them, this could potentially start a fire and damage your pipes, house, and puts everyone inside in danger. Also by using this tactic you also create a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
How Can You Prevent Your Pipes from Freezing?
During the winter you want to prepare for the worst. Make sure that when you are checking off your to-do list to prevent frozen pipes.
- Turn up the heat in your home.
- Set up fans around your house to blow warm air into cold rooms.
- Open any vanities, cabinet, closets, and pantry doors to let warm air in to reach pipes under sinks and in closed off rooms.
- Insulate pipes and faucets or allow water to trickle out.
- Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor faucets.
- Make sure your garage door is always closed.
- Heat all of your most vulnerable pipes that are usually found in basements, crawl spaces, or near exterior walls with a hairdryer and leave the faucet on while you apply heat.
Make Sure You are Covered
In case the worst does happen to your home with frozen pipes, fires, or flooding, the best protection you can have for this is insurance. Before the winter storms and bitterly cold temperatures hit, call your insurance agent to be sure you have the right homeowners insurance.
Homeowners insurance is your safety net for unexpected problems that can damage or destroy your home and your possessions. If you have more questions or need more help finding the best insurance agent and company fit for you, contact TJ Woods Insurance. We will pair you up with the best agents to provide the best protection for the people and things you love the most. Contact us today, and we will get you set up with a free quote.
