Prevent Frozen Burst Pipes
Prevent frozen and burst pipes alert!
Ladies and gentleman, could we please have your attention. We’ve just been handed an urgent and horrifying news story, and we need all of you to stop what you are doing and listen!
Homeowners, commercial property owners, and renters, beware freezing temperatures are upon us! The Colorado Front Range is expecting cold temperatures as low as -5 degrees, from Friday January 12 to Monday January 15 2024. The last thing you want to happen in your life is to have a frozen pipe burst in your home or business. This article provides information on how to prevent frozen burst pipes in Boulder, Longmont, Louisville, Lafayette, Superior, Lyons, Broomfield, Erie, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, and surrounding areas of Boulder, Weld, Broomfield Denver metro counties. You can avoid a broken water pipe disaster.
If you experience frozen pipes, call Planet Plumbing & Drain (303) 440-4330 or schedule online as soon as possible because the longer the pipes are frozen, the more chance your frozen pipes will split, and as a result, flood your home or business. Oftentimes, our plumbers can thaw out the frozen pipes and avoid bursting pipes, eliminating the need for pipe repairs and replacement, and moreover, avoiding costly water damage to your home or business.
How to Prevent and Thaw Frozen Pipes
- Turn up the heat, keep your heat 10-15 degrees higher than normal.
- Open all sink cabinets. This allows the plumbing wall to receive heat.
- Open a hot and cold faucet. Provide a slow steady stream, and not just one faucet. The water needs to move through the whole system. The best fixture is the tub so the water is less likely to back up. Whatever fixtures you decide to use, make sure its draining properly so the drain doesn’t back up. If your pipes do freeze make sure the first thing you do is open all the faucets, hot and cold, especially your tub shower valves. That way if the pipes thaw out the expansion of water won’t burst your pipes due to your faucets being open.
- Shut main water valve. If the temps are going to be close to zero or below and you have to leave the house to go to work or just be away for part of the day you should shut the main water valve off. That way if you do freeze and split the property wont get flooded. When you come back home if you turn the water back on and you do have splits you can shut the water back off quickly. Make sure you are aware of where your main water shut off is so if you need to shut your water off quickly you can.
- Apply heat to the frozen pipe. You can use a hair dryer, heat lamp, or hot water bottle. Just make sure your faucets are OPEN, otherwise the pipe could burst. Do not use an open flame or heat tape as this could damage the pipe or start a fire.
- Insulate exposed pipes, especially those in crawl spaces and attics.
- Seal any air leaks around pipes.
- Disconnect and drain garden hoses before the first frost.
- Furnace tune-up before winter. Faulty furnaces can lead to frozen and burst pipes.
- Be proactive and take these steps!
Indicators that you have frozen or burst pipes
- Water is not flowing from faucets or fixtures
- Pipes show cracks or bulges
- Pipes makes gurgling sounds
- Frost is visible on the pipes
Steps a Planet Plumber will take
- The frozen pipe plumber will evaluate the scenario and detect where the frozen pipe is located.
- The pipe will be thawed using safe and effective techniques.
- After the pipe is thawed, the plumber will inspect it for any damage and fix any leaks.
- Other pipes will be inspected for damage and that may susceptible to freezing.
- The plumber will make recommendations to prevent frozen pipes in the future.
About Planet Plumbing & Drain
Planet Plumbing & Drain is a Colorado based company and has been serving Boulder, Broomfield, Weld, Denver, Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas, and Jefferson counties since 1997! We are open 7 days a week!
Every one of our plumbing technicians is experienced and trained in frozen and burst pipes service. We can repair and replace water pipes throughout your home or business.
No overtime fees and free estimates. There is no charge for on-site estimates when needed.
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Call Planet Plumbing & Drain today at (303) 440-4330 or online to schedule your Plumbing service.
