Water pipes are one of the essential parts of your home. They keep you comfortable, they supply water to your home, and they can heat your house when the temperature drops below freezing. Unfortunately, water pipes can freeze without warning, so if you don’t catch it early enough, it could burst into flooded rooms!
What happens if pipes freeze?
If pipes freeze, they may burst. This can cause water damage to your home, property, and the surrounding area.
If you suspect that pipes have frozen, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Call an expert immediately so that they can determine if there’s any damage and prevent further damage from occurring. Water damage contractors in Lawrence are the best people for a job like this!
- Don’t attempt to thaw a frozen pipe yourself; instead, call for a Water Damage repair service in Lawrence that are ready to help you 24/7.
What happens when a pipe bursts?
If you have a burst pipe, it can be a severe problem. The water will leak into your home’s walls, ceilings, and floors. This is unsightly and dangerous if children or pets around could encounter the burst pipe’s contents.
A properly installed and maintained plumbing system is one of the essential parts of any home’s structure; if it fails due to poor maintenance or damage from an external source like freezing temperatures, your house may collapse under its weight!
Listen for a hissing sound.
If you hear a hissing sound, turn off the water immediately. This is caused by air expanding in pipes when the temperature drops below freezing and can lead to bursting pipes. Keep an ear out for this noise—if it’s present during winter, chances are good that your home’s pipes are frozen. If you don’t hear any hissing sound or notice any other signs of frozen pipes (like ice forming on faucets), then it’s best not to panic just yet: You may want to wait until spring before turning on your taps again anyway!
Inspect exposed pipes for ice.
Ice can be seen on the outside of the pipe and inside. Ice is usually clear or white but may also be gray or greenish. It’s important to note that ice doesn’t melt until it reaches room temperature (which means you’ll have to wait until morning). If you detect any signs of frozen water, call a professional immediately! You can use a hair dryer to melt any remaining chunks together, preventing them from bursting later down the road when they’ve been exposed long enough to thaw out fully.
Notice if your water pressure is low.
A frozen pipe may be present somewhere in your home if you notice that your water pressure is low. The first place to check is the faucets and shower heads in your bathroom—they should be working as usual. If not, look for leaks around the sink or under the toilet tank lid; these are also signs of frozen pipes.
If none work for you, consider checking for problems with sump pumps and drainage systems (if any). These small devices can prevent flooding from occurring if they fail during cold weather conditions like this one!
Don’t ignore frozen pipes!
Don’t ignore your pipes if you suspect that it is starting to freeze. Your home or business could sustain significant damage if frozen pipes burst suddenly.
The average time it takes for a pipe to burst is three days. However, some lines will break within 15 minutes of freezing temperatures entering the water system. If you notice a loud noise coming from your faucet or sink, call a professional immediately in case of an injury caused by the temperature change associated with frozen pipes bursting (such as cracked skin).
Don’t Let That Pipe Burst!
Check your faucet pressure. A low-pressure hose can be the source of the frozen pipe problem. Make sure your faucet is on and has water always going through it; if not, turn it off and back on again until it works properly.
Turn off any other appliances that may be running, including heaters or AC units in your home and dishwashers, and washing machines (but not clothes dryers). Overheating due to excess heat being drawn into them when constantly running with no interruption between cycles or cycles.
So, what should you do if you notice frozen pipes? Please don’t ignore it! If it’s an emergency, call the plumber. But if you have time to investigate and don’t see any signs of trouble in your water supply, call a plumber as soon as possible. They can determine whether the pipes are safe by checking them out themselves (and they might charge less than a maintenance specialist).