What Should You Do If Your Pipes Freeze?

Signs of Frozen Pipes

We don’t get much of freezing temperatures here in La Crescenta, CA, but there could be portions of your building that are colder than outdoor temperatures. This is especially common in crawl spaces, attics, and basements. Keep your eyes peeled for some of the following signs of trouble:

• No water or a slow trickle coming out of the faucet
• Frost on the exterior of pipes
• Bulging or cracked plumbing pipes
• Dampness or water stains on walls, ceilings, and floors

What to do About Frozen Pipes

So, you’ve spotted a frozen pipe or suspect frozen pipes. What next? The first order of business is damage control. Turn off the water line to prevent the problem from getting worse and open the faucets to release pressure in the pipes. With the water turned off and pressure relieved, you can further investigate the frozen pipes and pinpoint all affected regions.

Once you have located all of the frozen pipes, it is time to thaw them. There are many methods for doing this, including:

• Turning up the heat, either with a space heater or by adjusting the thermostat.
• Open cabinets and set up fans to send warm air into closed areas.
• Point a hairdryer at the frozen pipes.

Pouring hot water on the pipes can be an option if the room temperature is not around freezing and if you clean up properly, but it is not advisable without plumbing experience.

Preventing Frozen Pipes

They say an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure, and this couldn’t be more true of frozen pipes. There are many ways you can prevent frozen pipes in the first place, especially in a generally warm region like La Crescenta, CA:

• Keep the living areas warm.
• Insulate pipes in unheated areas like the garage, attic, and basement as well as exterior pipes.
• Drain garden hoses and bring them inside; cover outdoor faucets.
• Replace copper pipes with plastic ones if possible.
• Turn faucets to a trickle when expecting below freezing temperatures.

Emergency Frozen Pipe Repair

Frozen pipes can be nothing more than a minor inconvenience sometimes, but they can also cause serious damage to the pipes and plumbing system. If the frozen pipe is leaking, bulging, or outright damaged, then call Americana Plumbing to request an emergency frozen pipe repair today. We are proud to serve La Crescenta and surrounding cities. Our dedicated crew are on standby to take your call.