Pipes installed on exterior walls and drafty areas can freeze in frigid conditions. If water won’t flow out of your faucets, these frozen pipes could be to blame. More problematically, the metal could eventually break, causing water to slowly leak or quickly gush from the fracture. So a plumbing contractor won’t have to replace burst pipes this winter, below are a few steps to take after the channels freeze. 

What to Do If Your Pipes Freeze

1. Open Faucets

Turn on a faucet just a little so it produces a drip. Keeping the water running will help ice inside the pipe melt. You’ll know the line has thawed when normal water flow and pressure is restored. 

2. Turn on a Space Heater

If a frozen pipe is in a drafty area, open doors to direct heat from the furnace into the room. The hot air will gradually defrost the installation. To expedite the process, you could also place a space heater nearby or temporarily raise the temperature on the thermostat.

3. Place Heating Cables Near Pipes

If you can’t get the water to start flowing with the earlier two methods, then more extensive action is required. First, you must determine where the frozen pipe is located. If none of your faucets are functional, the main water pipe is probably the source of the issue. If only faucets in one room won’t work, a plumbing contractor will inspect the corresponding pipes for frost. After, they’ll wrap heating cables or insulation pads over the lines to raise the temperature. 

A frozen pipe can be hard to find, so contact the licensed and insured plumbing contractors at Charles Chester Plumbing & Heating in Elko, NV, for help. The licensed technicians (License #7377) will provide the heating tools to thaw pipes quickly and 24-hour emergency repairs if a channel breaks. You can also turn to them for routine drain cleaning and septic service. Learn more about their capabilities online. For an appointment, call (775) 738-61251. Rate your experience on Facebook.