It’s that time of year again when the chill of winter has returned and the temperatures can dip down quickly. When the freezing cold temperatures hit, an unfortunate side effect can be frozen pipes. During extreme cold, water supply pipes are often subject to both freezing and bursting, and that can wreak havoc with your home.
As a plumbing company, Boelcke likes to help people prevent frozen pipes as much as possible. That’s why we’re always happy to share advice, like these tips on how you can keep your pipes from freezing offered by The American Red Cross. But, what if your pipes are already frozen? In this article, we’ll offer some steps you can take to help thaw your pipes safely, and hopefully, avoid or minimize damage. Keep reading to learn more!
4 Steps You Can Take if You Have Frozen Pipes
If the temperatures are below freezing, and you turn on a faucet and only a trickle of water comes out, it’s likely a frozen pipe. Frozen pipes are most common against exterior walls of your home, or where your water service enters your home through the foundation.
- First things first. Shut off the water main and open any faucets that are connected to the pipe. This step is crucial because it reduces pressure on the pipes, and can help minimize any flooding if the pipes burst.
- Next, thaw the pipe if you can. Use a hair dryer or space heater to thaw the ice blockage. Do not leave it unattended, and make sure any flammable materials have been removed from the area where you will be heating the pipe. Also, never use an open flame.
- Then, check the pipes for any leaks. Even with the water shut off, there should be enough pressure in the pipes to reveal any leaks once the ice blockage has thawed.
- Finally, call Boelcke to help. We can check out your pipes for any additional ice blockages, and we have the proper equipment to thaw your pipes, get them working again, and make any needed repairs. It’s especially important to give us a call if you’ve had severely frozen pipes, as this can weaken piping material and cause leaks or fractures down the road.
Keep in mind, frozen pipes need to be taken care of properly in order to prevent a disaster. That means, as soon as you discover your pipes are frozen, you need to take the above measures and give Boelcke a call as soon as possible. Our skilled master plumbers can help you get your frozen pipes thawed, and in the unfortunate event of a burst pipe, we can make the repairs needed to your plumbing.
Trust Boelcke for the emergency plumbing services you need.
Frozen or burst pipes mean you need help right away. At Boelcke, we proudly provide our customers with 24-hour emergency plumbing service. If you live in Stevensville, Coloma, St. Joseph,or the surrounding areas and need plumbing products and services for your home, give Boelcke a call at (269) 429-9261. We’ll help you get the plumbing services you need quickly and professionally.
When the winter months arrive in Southwest Michigan, they bring with them snow, ice and cold temperatures. Unfortunately, that also means they can bring frozen pipes – or worse, burst pipes. Frozen pipes need to be taken care of properly in order to prevent a disaster. That means, as soon as you discover your pipes are frozen, you need to call in an expert right away. Fortunately, Boelcke Heating and Air Conditioning can help. We’ll take care of your frozen pipes before they burst – or after.
