Do You Know How to Prevent Bursting Pipes Within Your Home?

Preventing Bursting Pipes 101

With the onset of winter, temperatures will get down below freezing for much of the United States. If you live in an area where snow and ice are common, you’ll need to take special precautions to keep your frozen pipes from bursting. It only takes one day or night of freezing temperatures to freeze your pipes solid.

It’s essential to recognize signs of freezing pipes so you can fix them before they burst. Burst pipes can cost thousands of dollars in repair bills and may create extensive damage to your house. So before you do anything else this winter, read this article. Learn what signs to look for to prevent your pipes from freezing.

Ice Buildup Can Cause Uneven Water Streams

If you turn on your sink or shower faucet and find that you have an uneven water stream, you might have ice in your pipes. An uneven water stream is recognizable by the low amount of water that comes out of your faucet.

If you turn your water on high and only half the expected water comes out, you’re dealing with uneven water streams. Irregular water streams occur when ice forms and cause blockages in pipes that feed into the house. This phenomenon can be an inconvenience because you’re unable to access the amount of water you’ve been used to regularly.

More than a nuisance, however, uneven water streams point to ice in your pipes. If there’s ice in your pipes, they aren’t far away from freezing solid. Catching pipes in the process of freezing is essential to keep them from bursting and to keep you from needing repiping services. 

Cold Temperatures Create Frosty Pipes

Finding frost on the outside of your pipes is the most obvious symptom to catch when pipes are on the verge of freezing. While some signs of near-freezing pipes are not as easily recognizable, frost on your pipes is a sure sign that water is freezing inside. Regularly inspect areas of your pipe that are exposed to the outside, drafty areas, or outside-facing walls.

If you find frost on your pipes, it’s crucial to fix this issue as soon as possible. If one area of your pipe is frozen, the water flow will cease and can cause the rest of your pipe to freeze, as well. Frozen pipes are at high risk of bursting entirely, causing damage to the pipes and your home.

Don’t Ignore Unexpected Cold Water

If you turn on the hot water faucet and only get cold water, you might have ice in your pipes. Hot water that doesn’t rise to temperature is often a sign of ice cycles forming in your pipes. When hot water flows through your pipes and moves over ice, the hot temperatures will decrease as water mixes with ice.

As inconvenient as cold water can be, it’s a sure sign that your pipes need attention. Frozen pipes are costly and need to be fixed right away. Don’t put up with the signs and symptoms of frozen pipes. Inspect them regularly and call a plumber if you need to fix them.

Plumbers You Can Trust

Nixco Plumbing Inc. has been Cincinnati Ohio’s trusted family-owned and operated plumbers since 1978. Offering 24/7 service, a guaranteed cleanup for every job, and honest expert service, they are plumbers you can trust. They also help homeowners throughout the area prepare for winter temperatures, protecting their plumbing system in the process.

• 
  +
• 
  +
• 
  +
• 
  +