How to Thaw Frozen Pipes to Prevent the Pipes From Bursting
How to Thaw Frozen Pipes to Prevent the Pipes From Bursting
It’s estimated that over 250,000 homes will experience water damage from frozen and burst pipes each year. These contribute to the nearly 2.5 billion dollars that the insurance industry pays out yearly on water damage and mold costs. With so much time and money spent surrounding this issue, many homeowners wonder what they can do to prevent this from happening in their own homes. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to care for and properly thaw your pipes in order to minimize the risk of them bursting.
Even if you’ve gone through many winters without any issues with your pipes, this doesn’t mean you’ll be problem-free this year. You never know when a problem can occur, and for many homeowners, this means a surprise flood when they least expect it. At Action 1 Restoration, we want to help homeowners minimize their home’s risk of flooding. We encourage you to read the information below to learn how to prevent burst pipes, thaw frozen pipes, and restore your home if water damage does occur.
In most homes, water can run freely through pipes as long as the weather does not reach below 20 degrees. Unfortunately, in climates where the weather reaches below freezing, this can result in the water inside pipes freezing overnight when residents aren’t using their plumbing. This is especially true for pipes that are located in areas of the home that are not heated or fully insulated, including the garage and unfinished basements.
Once pipes are frozen, the water inside will naturally expand. Unfortunately, this often causes the pipes to burst, as they aren’t able to handle the change in pressure. This can result in flooding, which will worsen as the pipes begin to warm up and thaw during the day. In situations where the pipes don’t completely freeze, residents may find that their water is slow to move through the pipes. This is the result of ice pieces inside of the pipes that can be slow to melt.