The last thing any of us would want to deal with during the winter is a frozen pipe. Unfortunately, as the harsh winter weather approaches Denver in the coming months, a frozen pipe is a very real possibility. When freezing water expands in a pipe, it tends to burst them pipe and ruin fixtures with in the pipe. If not properly serviced, this can be very expensive to fix. There are a few things you can try to unfreeze the pipe and few things you need to know to prevent a frozen pipe.
The freezing of pipes occurs for a number of reasons that should all be investigated. A frozen pipe is likely due to a pipe that has been frozen before and not properly fixed; exposed pipes in crawl spaces, attics or rooms without heat; and pipes that run on the exterior of your house. If you have had a pipe freeze or burst in the past, you should have had it fixed properly. If it was left unattended to or if a “quick” fix was performed on it, it is likely that it will burst again and you will be faced with considerable damage. If you have exposed pipes in your craw space, attic or any room without heat, the pipe is exposed to extremely cold temperatures that could lead it to burst. Likewise, when a pipe runs on the exterior of your home, it is exposed to weather conditions such as snow, sleet and wind that could all lead to burst pipe.
If you find that a pipe is already frozen, you are somewhat limited in what you can do. You can try increasing temperatures in the home to help warm pipes, especially those in outside walls. For individual rooms that are not heated very well, you should place space heaters close to the frozen pipe. You can also try placing hot rags on the pipe itself. Warm rags may help to thaw the pipe, but may not fix the problem entirely.
Denver plumbers are constantly being asked what people can do to reduce the likelihood of a frozen pipe. To reduce the chances of a frozen pipe in your home, the strongest recommendation is that you let water trickle from any fixture connected to the pipe and be certain the drain is open and clear. If it is determined that a pipe needs to be relocated to avoid it freezing, you will need to contact a Denver plumbing service.
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Tags: burst pipes, denver plumbing, freezing pipes, frozen pipes
