Are your pipes frozen? This is what to do now

If no water is coming out of the tap at this point, chances are your pipes are frozen. But that doesn’t necessarily mean your pipes are broken, cracked, or broken. There are a few steps you can take now to avoid damage in the coming days.

Tim Jordan, Plumbing Service Manager for Abacus Plumbing and Air Conditioning and Electrical, says the Abacus team is answering phone calls from concerned customers. Here’s what he says to do now.

If you haven’t already, shut off the water to your house immediately.

Do not try to defrost the pipes without closing the main valve. In this way, damage is limited if a pipe bursts, as there is no water to feed the leak.

If you can, fill the bathtub with water before turning it off.

(There may be no water to do this.) Even if the water to your house is shut off, you can still flush the toilet if you have water to add to the tank at the top.

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Turn the bath faucet or main pipe inward.

In this way, when the pipes start to thaw, there is an opening for the water to pass through without pressure building up in the pipes. The pressure in the pipes can cause fractures.

“If your pipes are underground, the chances are smaller that the pipes are broken. It could be a pipe that is frozen in the attic, for example pipes going to the boiler, ”said Jordan.

Should you try to defrost pipes yourself?

There are conflicting reports when it is a good idea to defrost your pipes. You may hear people use blow dryers or heating pads to thaw frozen pipes. Jordan says that to avoid damage to the pipes, they do NOT recommend that people defrost their own pipes.

Your pipes are more likely to come out unbroken or cracked here if you let them thaw on their own when the weather gets warmer.

The process of thawing can be when the biggest problems occur

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“When it gets warmer, we’ll start to see more problems as the pipes thaw,” Jordan said. “When the tube thaws, the pressure of the water starts to flow through the tube and the tube can break.”

The pressure of unfrozen water between the ice and the closed tap is the main cause of fractures in frozen pipes. (This is also why it’s a good idea to turn off the main water.)

How do I know if I should call a plumber for help?

Of course, if you have visible signs of damage to pipes, call a plumber. You should also call if you see water puddling outside or even from the ceiling or walls. Maybe you should wait! Jordan (with Abacus Plumbing) says they are very busy now and all plumbers will be too. He advises people to get on a list now so that a plumber can come out as soon as possible to help.