Weather in Central Illinois is volatile and unpredictable, and it’s not uncommon for temperatures to dip well below freezing, which leads to frozen pipes. Water lines that constantly freeze and thaw quickly can weaken, leading to leaks and bursts. To protect your valuable home from water damage, call the professionals at Platinum Plumbing for same-day pipe thawing and burst pipe repair.
If your home’s plumbing is over 50 years old, call us to determine how our repiping services can improve your water quality and add value to your home.
Dangers of Frozen Pipes
Imagine getting up in the morning and going to brush your teeth only to find out there’s no water coming out because your pipes have frozen. While this is an inconvenience, it’s the least of your problems because frozen and burst pipes are a common occurrence here in Bloomington. If you don’t think frozen pipes are something to worry about, check out these dangers.
Besides losing water flow, you run the risk of pipes bursting as they repeatedly freeze and thaw. Burst pipes mean water damage inside the home and the possibility of mold and mildew growth. Imagine some of your priceless belongings or furniture being ruined by water coming from burst pipes. If you’ve experienced frozen pipes before, keep in mind that they’ve probably weakened and are in danger of leaks or bursts. Call Platinum Plumbing and let our experts assess the health of your plumbing and help avoid damaging pipe bursts in the future.
How to Prevent Frozen Pipes
As mentioned, the weather here in Bloomington is unpredictable, and it’s not uncommon to experience freezing and spring-like temperatures within the same week. The last thing you need is for a pipe to burst while you’re away at work or on vacation because of the potential damage the water can inflict. To prevent burst pipes, it’s best to prevent them from freezing in the first place, and here are a few tips for doing that.
- Keep Faucets Running –– If the temperature outside dips below freezing, it’s good to keep one or two faucets trickling to keep water flowing through the system to prevent freezing.
- Direct Warm Air to Cold Areas –– Often, pipes susceptible to freezing are located near an outside wall or window, so to prevent them from freezing, do all that you can to direct warm air to the colder areas in the house to keep the pipes warm.
- Keep Cabinet Doors Open –– If your kitchen sink is near an outside wall, leave your cabinet doors open, so the warm air has easy access to the pipes. It’s also recommended that you let water trickle out of your kitchen faucet during freezing temperatures.
- Disconnect the Outside Hose –– Before winter arrives, be sure to remove the hose from the outside hose bib because failing to do so means that water won’t drain out of the bib and is likely to freeze.
- Use Heat Tape – Most home improvement stores carry a product known as heat tape, which warms pipes during cold temperatures. Although you can install heat tape yourself, it’s better to call a professional plumber for the best protection.
If you’re concerned about your pipes freezing this coming winter, call the expert technicians at Platinum Plumbing and ask about how to prepare your pipes for winter best.
You can extend the lifespan of your water heater with our water heater maintenance services.
How to Identify Frozen Pipes
Sometimes, it’s not easy to determine whether a pipe is frozen or if there’s another issue. Unfortunately, you often don’t know that a pipe is frozen until it’s too late and you have a burst on your hands. Here are the most common signs that your pipes might be frozen.
- Slow Water Movement – If you notice that the water is taking longer to reach and flow out of the faucet, it could result from frozen pipes.
- Unusual Sounds –– Strange sounds are coming from your pipes don’t always mean that you should be alarmed; however, if you notice sounds you’ve not heard before, like whistling, bubbling, or gurgling, during cold times, it could mean the pipes are frozen.
- Frost –– The easiest way to identify a frozen pipe is if you notice frost on the outside of the pipe.
- Bulges or Protrusions –– Bulges in your pipes are a clear sign that there’s an obstruction that you must resolve as quickly as possible.
