Plumbing and Rooter Services Edmonton

Plumbing & Rooter Services To Prevent Frozen Pipes

Frozen pipes are all too common during the cold months. As water freezes, it expands, and when it expands inside your plumbing pipes, it puts the entire system at risk. Increased pressure inside the pipes makes them prone to cracking. And you don’t want to deal with a burst pipe in the middle of winter.

Determining the damage

How much damage can a frozen pipe cause? Let’s put it this way: A seemingly small, 1/7-inch crack can release 270 gallons of water per day. Flooding from a burst pipe can lead to mold and costly structural damage. Homeowners should take every precaution necessary to prevent this disaster from happening. The best way to prevent this is, consulting with professional plumbing and rooter services in Edmonton.

How to avoid frozen pipes?

Although you can’t control the weather, you can protect your pipes from icy conditions. A few preventive measures will keep your pipes above freezing and intact even as temperatures plummet.

1. Drip your faucets: If the forecast calls for freezing temperatures, open the hot and cold faucets in your home just a little bit. A slow, constant drip will keep the pipes warm and reduce pressure.
2. Protect outdoor faucets: Make sure to close and drain all outdoor faucets. Disconnect any water hoses. Use faucet covers to keep the taps insulated and protected from falling ice.
3. Open cabinet doors: Exposed pipes under the bathroom and kitchen sinks are prone to freezing. Open cabinet doors to allow warm air to reach the pipes.
4. Keep the furnace on low: Going out of town? Make sure you program your furnace to run even while you’re not home. If the house gets too cold, you may return to a burst pipe.
5. Open the air vents: Avoiding cold zones is essential. Keep the air vents open so warm air blows into every room.

It’s best to implement these low-cost, temporary fixes as soon as temperatures begin to drop. Waiting too long may result in disaster. Notice ice crystals on your indoor pipes? Use a hair dryer on a low setting to slowly melt the ice. If you lose power in sub-zero weather, insulate and cover your most-likely-to-burst pipes right away.

As a rule of thumb, it is a good choice to consult with a professional plumber in Edmonton who can provide apt plumbing and rooter services at affordable costs.