How Do Plumbers Fix Frozen Pipes?

Plumbing alone can be quite a task. However, sometimes, things can go under the weather both for you and your pipelines. It can happen during winter—when the weather is especially cold and the temperature drops significantly. And, as we all know, water freezes if exposed at low temperatures for a considerable amount of time, may it be winter season or not. It affects not just the water exposed on the surface, but also the water in the pipes of your home. If that happens, what can a plumber do to fix it? Let’s get through the basics. If after reading this article you still want or need additional information we recommend you go to https://calltheplumberguys.com.

This is the very first step to almost any fix that a plumber does. They cannot start by just guessing which part of the house is leaking and freezing. Tell them the whereabouts of your pipelines and how the problem started, where you first spotted the freezing, and how long it has been since it started. Once they have found the cause, they can then safely proceed with the next step.

Just as a doctor does not prescribe medication without performing proper diagnostic procedures, your plumber will not rush in performing the necessary repairs needed without coming to know how the problem started in the first place. He will first make sure if the water inside the pipe is still fully frozen or already partially thawed. He will also check the conditions of the pipes and, if possible, the entire waterline system. After these checks, he can then go on with the needed repair.

Most of the time, when the water inside the pipe has turned into ice, it can cause the blocked portion, or even the entire pipe, to rupture. To begin this process, the plumber may ask you to first shut off the mainline of the water system. Afterward, he can then start to thaw the frozen portions of the pipe. For the thawing part, there are several methods that can be used.

One of the most common ways to do this is by using a hairdryer. This method is especially effective when the pipeline is located just next to a wall, as the heat can be deflected to the whole surrounding pipe. Similarly, a heat lamp can also be used to do just the same as a hairdryer does. With this procedure, the heat lamp is correctly positioned in order for the heat (from the lamp) to thaw the frozen water inside the pipe. Be careful, though, for this method is much riskier than using a hairdryer. The use of towels that are first soaked in hot water is also one of the simplest ways to slowly thaw a frozen pipe. Depending on the severity of the case, one of the last resorts of plumbers is to use the electrical pipe heat tape. As the name suggests, it is a tape that is wrapped all over the frozen pipe that produces heat. The tape’s temperature can also be adjusted.

As a final thought, it is always best to avoid being caught in this situation by practicing precautionary measures. An example of this is by covering the pipes with the electrical pipe heat tape. You can also ask your local plumber about some tips on how to keep your water system in good condition.

Teacher-turned online blogger, Shirley is a full-time backyard homesteader based in Virginia. When she doesn't have her face buried in a book or striding in her garden, she's busy blogging about simple life hacks of the daily life.