When the temperature drops drastically, there is a risk that your pipes will freeze, which can lead to inconvenience at the very least, and pipe bursts at worst, causing a mess and a lot of money. This factor causes a lot of calls to the pipe opener during the cold days of the year.
Learn the signs of a frozen pipe and how to defrost it before it does real damage.
Of all the challenges you face during a harsh winter, a frozen pipe may strike the most fear into a homeowner’s heart.
However, the risk is real. If the temperature drops low enough, the water inside a vulnerable pipe may freeze and expand, causing the pipe to burst. Hours or days later, when the ice finally subsides, water can freely pour out of the damaged pipe, leading to a host of hazards, including moisture in the wall and settlement of the ground around the wall.
How to open a frozen pipe?
In fact, if you’re at home and aware of this, you may be able to thaw a frozen pipe early to prevent any damage. Homeowners usually discover a frozen pipe when they turn on the faucet and nothing comes out, or when the toilet won’t refill after flushing. Sometimes there are even signs such as an obvious bulge or a thin layer of frost on the pipe itself.
Time is a factor here. If the weather is forecast to stay cold, you may have time to call a professional in the field of plumbing in Toronto to handle the situation safely.
However, if the temperature is expected to rise in the short term or if you cannot reach a qualified professional quickly enough, follow the steps listed below. Here’s how you can thaw frozen pipes on your own using a few household items you probably already have.
Find the frozen pipe
Sometimes the hardest part is finding the frozen pipe. One trick is to turn on all the faucets in the house. If water is not reaching a particular faucet, trace its plumbing lines as they move away from the pipe. Inspect the length of the pipe with your hands (a frozen pipe will literally give you a cold feeling), continue until you find the damaged area. If none of your faucets are flowing, the problem may be with the main supply pipe.
Turn off the main water tap
Once you have found and confirmed the frozen pipe, go to the main water supply valve and turn it clockwise. Next, open all sink faucets and tub faucets in your home and drain the remaining water in the system.