Frozen Pipes

How Cold Temperatures Result In Burst Pipes

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Cold temperature in winter can take a massive toll on any home. When severe winter weather happens, ice dams, roof leaks, and frozen pipes all become possible, and they pose the real risk of costly damage. Both commercial and residential properties alike must contend with the fallout from pipe bursts that occur during frigid days and nights. If you wish to learn more about how pipes can burst during a harsh winter cold snap, continue reading.

What Causes Pipes To Burst?

When the water supply to any type of building is impacted by cold outdoor temperatures, a number of different problems can arise. While cold is known to cause contraction of most things, ice has a higher density than water. Thus, when water starts to freeze within a piece of pipe, the ice expands and boosts the internal pressure. Pipes may be pushed to the point of bursting as a result. It is often the case that these breaks happen at especially weak joints along the piping.

What To Do About Frozen Pipes

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It’s an unpleasant surprise no homeowner wants to face. You’re ready to take a shower to jump-start your morning or treat yourself to a nice, hot bath at the end of a long winter’s day, but you can’t because when you turn the taps, water doesn’t come out. Your pipes have frozen.

Why It Happens

This isn’t something that occurs every winter, but for some homeowners, they already know that there are certain occasions when it’s a possibility. Some water pipes are not insulated or are positioned in such a way that they are closer to the exterior of a home and exposed to the colder temperatures during the winter months.

Tips On How To Thaw Out A Frozen Pipe

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How to thaw a frozen pipe Thawing a frozen water pipe quickly is crucial. However, it is equally important to ensure you thaw a frozen pipe correctly. Here are top tips that will help you get water flowing and help you avert the crisis of a burst pipe or potentially damaging floods in your home.

Tip #1: Locating the Frozen Pipe

Thawing frozen pipes starts with determining which pipe or pipes have frozen. First, turn on all water faucets. If no water pours or just a little of it trickles, then you should know that the pipe leading to the valve is frozen. And, if the pipe is exposed, like in the basement, under the sink, or on the exterior of your house, you could see the frozen part of the pipe. Frozen pipes usually have frost on them or could have a small bulge.

Tip #2: Open the Faucet

Before you can commence any attempts to thaw frozen pipes, you will need to open all faucets which the pipe delivers water into. You should open both the cold and hot handles in this case. This is a good way to release the pressure in the system, and it will let water escape when you start to thaw your frozen pipe.

Tip #3: Where Should You Begin?

If you are doing the thawing on your own, you should start the process close to the faucet and work your way slowly down the blockage point. This aids in ensuring that the steam and melting ice escape via the open section. If you begin the process nearer to the blockage, the melting ice will probably get stuck behind your blockage, create more pressure in your pipes and increase the chances of your pipe bursting.

Tip #4: Thawing the Exposed Pipes

If your frozen pipe is in an area that you can access easily, there are numerous options for trying to thaw the pipe. You should not stop applying heat until the water running through the faucet runs at full strength.

Here are your options for thawing exposed pipes.

A Hair Dryer: A hair dryer is the easiest way to thaw a frozen pipe. Just turn on your dryer and point its heat at the frozen pipe, beginning with the section near the faucet.
Heat Lamp: Another good way to thaw pipes is with a heat lamp. You should, however, position this device in a manner that the heat reaches the frozen pipe. The indirect heat aids in quickly thawing pipes.
Hot Towels: Wrapping towels that have been dipped in hot water around frozen pipes is another easy way to thaw, and it helps to thaw blockages slowly.

Here’s a video from Ace Hardware which explains how to thaw a frozen pipe…

We hope that these tips on thawing frozen pipes have helped you. However, if you need professional pipe repair services for a frozen or burst pipe then call Plumbing Emergency Rescue and we’ll send a plumber out to you quickly.

How To Avoid a Costly Winter Pipe Leak

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As Winter approaches here on Long Island it is important to understand how the lowering temperatures can push your plumbing system to the brink. Below are some great tips that will help you in preparing your home or place of business’ plumbing system for the cold-weather season.

Today's Frozen Pipes Are Tomorrow's Plumbing Emergency

Protecting Pipes From Freezing

When the temperature drops during winter, the water inside can easily freeze, and this can lead to bursting of the pipes. The damage can be extensive if you are away from your home or business for an extended period of time. This damage can include massive flooding, damage to your rugs, furniture, and property’s structure. If you want to reduce the risk of your pipes bursting, wrap the un-insulated pipes using foam. You can get foam tubes from your local hardware store. If the foam doesn’t have self-adhesive edges, use duct tape.

Fix Plumbing Leaks Before The Start of Winter

The best time to get your leaks repaired is now. You should do a proper check of the faucets in the kitchen, bathrooms, and any other rooms and see whether there are drips and puddles. If you notice any problem with the faucet, call a plumber to repair the leak as soon as possible..

Drain Your Water Heater

If you are in a location that has hard water, then the sediment will build up in your tank, and this causes rust to start developing inside. The rust can then find a way into your cooking, drinking, and bathing water. If the hot water heater is too old or rusted, then you should think about a new unit before the winter season.

Losing The Outdoor Hose

The best thing to do is disconnecting, wrapping up and packing away the garden hose until the return of warm weather. When you leave it connected, it can cause the water left inside it to freeze and expands, and this will also cause the freezing of the connecting pipes and faucets as well.

WInterizing Your Outdoor Pipes

Closing and Draining Shut-Off Valves Leading Outdoors

If there are interior shut off valves in your home that lead to outdoor faucets, then you should close them; then drain the water from outside lines. If there is water in the lines it can easily freeze and result in a lot of damage.

We hope the above tips will go a long way in helping you avoid pipe leaks this Winter. If you would like more information about winterizing your home or business, repairing leaking pipes, or any other plumbing issues, please feel free to call us.

How To Prevent Frozen Water Pipes During The Winter

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frozen pipe repair service Frozen water pipes can occur during the winter months when temperatures drop below freezing. They are particularly common during periods of high wind. Homes that are currently unoccupied are also at risk of having their pipes freeze, simply because there is no heat running through the ventilation system next to the pipes to help keep them from getting too cold.

Unfortunately, when water pipes freeze, the damage can be extensive. If you live on Long Island, where freezing temperatures are common, it might be difficult to find an available plumber to make any necessary repairs during a cold snap since they may already be helping other customers. Having to wait to restore running water to your home can leave you in a real bind. The best way to avoid this problem is by taking steps to prevent and fix frozen water pipes during the winter.

If the weather forecast is calling for exceptionally low temperatures, you should leave all of your faucets dripping. This is particularly important for any faucets that get their water supply from pipes that are not well-protected from the weather. Water is much less likely to freeze when it is in motion. The slow drip can keep the water in the pipes moving enough that it won’t freeze.

Before winter hits, be sure to turn off the water supply to any outdoor faucets. Don’t forget to turn on the faucet after the main water supply has been cut off to remove any excess water from the pipes. The expanding and contracting motion of water that occurs when it freezes can cause the pipe to burst. Neglecting to turn off the water outside is one of the most common issues that people run into when springtime rolls around.

Any plumbing that runs through cabinets that are located on the outer walls of your home can be protected by opening the cabinet doors during periods of extremely cold weather. When the cabinet doors are closed, it is harder for heat to get into the space. As a result, the pipes may freeze. Opening up the cabinet doors can allow heat from your home to penetrate the space, helping to prevent frozen pipes.

Proper insulation is essential. All exposed plumbing should be covered with insulating sleeves or pipe tape. It is best to do this before winter strikes. Otherwise, you may have trouble finding pipe insulation in stock. Usually, when the first freeze happens, stores sell out quickly with everyone rushing to protect their pipes. Insulating your pipes in the fall is the best way to ensure that they will be properly protected.

If you are going to be gone for an extended period of time during the winter, you should plan ahead to avoid any problems. Use a programmable thermostat to maintain the temperature inside your home. Additionally, consider asking a neighbor to check in on your property periodically to make sure that the heating system is still working. The last thing that you want is to come home to frozen pipes.

If your pipes do freeze, there are some steps that you can take on your own while you are waiting for a plumber to get to your property. Start by increasing the amount of heat in the room. If you have a space heater available, you can direct it toward the frozen pipes.

Rather than waiting until there is a problem, however, it is much better to be proactive. Using all of the tips in this article, you should be able to keep your pipes from freezing no matter how cold it gets this winter.

Plumbing Emergencies – What Needs To Be Done For A Burst Pipe

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burst pipe repair plumber No homeowner on Long Island ever wants to have to deal with burst plumbing pipes. However, unfortunately, it is all too common for pipes to burst, which causes serious damage and flooding.

There are numerous reasons why a pipe might burst like a pipe that freezes and expands and then bursts, a crack in a pipe caused by too much pressure, or a corroded pipe. If you do end up with a burst pipe, then it is very important that you know how to prevent even more expense and damage.

The following are tips for what you should do when you have a burst pipe occur:

1. The very first step you should take when you notice you have a burst pipe is make sure to turn your main water supply off. You can either turn the water off a the main water valve in your basement or at your water meter.

2. Your next step is draining the water system to prevent the water from flooding your home to cause even more damage. This can be done through turning all the taps off in your house and flushing the toilet. That will help water drain a lot more quickly from the pipes. If water is coming in from the ceiling and a bulge is being caused, then a hole can be made in the bulge and a bucket can be held underneath it order to catch any excess water.

3. If there is leaked water close to any electrical appliances, then it is critical that the electricity be turned off since that can be dangerous. Remove the right fuse if there is any water close to a light switch or fixture.

4. Turn the water heater and central heating off. After the water heater is off, then turn the hot water taps on in order to reduce pressure inside of the pipes. This will help to drain the water also.

5. After there isn’t any more water leaking into the house, and there isn’t any danger of water getting into the water heating system and appliances, then you can search for what the source of your pipe burst is. This will allow you to give important information to your plumber when you call for emergency services to be done at your home.

6. Call a plumber. Any time you have a burst pipe that is a serious issue and a professional plumber needs to repair it. Plumbers have the tools, experience and knowledge to conduct quality repair jobs correctly.

You shouldn’t use joint compound or Teflon tape to try to repair a burst pipe since it will just end up bursting against. Electrical wiring damage also may be dangerous, so a professional should be called to perform any necessary repairs.

After a pipe bursts, it is critical to efficiently and quickly take the necessary steps to prevent any further damage from occurring. After you have taken the appropriate steps for minimizing threats and damage like leaking water on live wires, it is critical to contact a professional plumber. They understand that emergencies may occur at any time of the night or day, so that is why they offer 24 hour emergency service.

Also, since burst pipes are serious plumbing emergencies, it is critical that the repair be made by a profession to make sure there are not any more problems in the future. A plumber also can inspect the pipes to make sure there isn’t any additional damage that you might not have noticed. They also can ensure the system is operating correctly once the repair work is finished.

How to Thaw Frozen Pipes Safely

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If you experience a frozen pipe, you need to know how to safely thaw your pipes to prevent a burst. A burst pipe can be an expensive repair; therefore, knowing how to thaw your frozen pipes safely can help minimize the risk of a break. Before winter arrives, you should help protect your pipes from freezing by:

Insulating your plumbing pipes in your crawl space and attic, even if these areas are not prone to freezing temperatures. To help protect your pipes, make sure that you insulate them properly.
Wrap pipes that are exposed to cold temperatures, especially those that are located outdoors or in unheated areas of your home with heat tape or controlled heat cables. If you have a mobile home, it is especially important to use heat tape, even if your mobile home is skirted. When shopping for heat tape, ensure that the heat tape is approved by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. or another organization and they are approved for indoor or outdoor usage. Finally, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure they are installed properly.
If you know that temperatures are going to be below freezing, leave a faucet dripping to keep water moving and help to prevent freezing.

We fix frozen pipes on Long Island If your pipes freeze, do not use a blowtorch, open flame or propane heater to help thaw the pipes as this can cause damage to your plumbing system. If you find that you have a frozen pipe, it is important to realize that there may be more frozen pipes. Start by turning on the cold water side of the faucets in your house.

A small trickle of water can help to flush out a frozen pipe; however, it may take some time to clear the freeze. If you turn on your faucet and no water is running, it can help you locate the pipe or pipes that are frozen. If no water is running, it is imperative that you contact a plumber as pipes can burst or become damaged during the thawing process.

If you find a frozen pipe that you can reach, try thawing the pipe using a hairdryer. This will slowly warm the pipe and can help to clear the freeze; however, it is important that your faucets are on so that any air trapped in the pipes can escape. If you do not turn on the faucets in your home, excess air can build up in your plumbing and cause a pipe or multiple pipes to burst. Thawing pipes can take a few minutes or it can take several hours. Most of the time, it is best to call in a professional to repair frozen pipes because you can easily damage your entire plumbing system if you do not handle the frozen pipes properly.

Repairing Frozen Pipes

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frozen pipe repair service Mother Nature can wreak havoc on your plumbing system very quickly. When temperatures plummet on Long Island your pipes can become frozen and burst, resulting in serious damage to your home. If your pipes become frozen, you must act quickly to thaw them and prevent your pipes from bursting due to rising pressure within your pipes.

If a pipe bursts, hundreds of gallons of water can quickly enter your home and cause thousands of dollars of damage. Here are some tips to help you minimize the potential of a burst pipe.

The first step to thawing a frozen pipe is to determine which pipe is frozen. If the pipe is in an exposed location, it will be easier to defrost than a price that is located behind a wall, in the ceiling or under the floor. If the pipe is located in a hidden area, you may need to cut out a section of a wall or your ceiling. Once you expose the pipe, you will need to inspect the pipe to look for any bulges or cracks. If you see a bulge or crack, the pipe could burst at any time, so you need to act quickly to avoid a disaster.

You need to immediately locate your water main shut off valve. You may need to shut off the water quickly if the pipe bursts; so, you may want to have someone ready to shut off the water to your home quickly.

Most experts recommend using a hair dryer to defrost a frozen pipe. Turn the hair dryer on high and move it along the pipe. Start with the main intake and travel towards the frozen area. Keep the hair dryer continually moving, being careful to avoid concentrating on any one area for too long. If the pipe is located in a wall, place a metal baking sheet behind the pipe. This will reflect the heat from the hair dryer back to the pipe. This will make your job easier and ensure that all sides of the pipe are heated equally.

Another way to help thaw a frozen pipe is to wrap a hot, wet rag around the pipe. Never pour hot water over the pipe as doing so can cause pressure to build up in the pipe and cause it to burst. The hot rag will slowly and equally thaw the pipe and help to prevent a burst.

It may be tempting to heat a frozen pipe using an open flame, a propane heater or a blow torch. This will heat the pipe up too quickly and can lead to a burst pipe. Additionally, using an open flame is dangerous. Many homes have been destroyed by either water damage or fire by homeowners attempting to thaw frozen pipes.

How To Prevent And Thaw Frozen Pipes

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In order to avoid expensive and messy situations that frozen pipes cause, it is important to prepare well in advance. The following are a couple of methods on how you can prevent your Long Island home’s water pipes from freezing and the best way of thawing them in the event that they do freeze.

Why it is such a problem to have frozen water pipes?

Whenever water freezes, it ends up expanding inside of whatever it is contained in, and applies pressure to the surface from the inside. No matter how strong the vessel or pipes are that the frozen water are in, the pressure that is exerted by the expanding water will eventually break it.

Pipes that are directly exposed to low temperatures are the ones that freeze the most, like water supply lines to the home’s unheated interior parts, outdoor house pipes, and swimming pool supply lines.

Prevent freezing water pipes prior to the start of cold weather

You need to prepare for cold weather in order to prevent pipes from freezing. The instructions from your supplier may vary, but the first thing that needs to be done is to drain your sprinkler and swimming pool supply lines. Do not use antifreeze in those lines, since it is harmful to humans and pets. You also need to drain and store any lines that are used outdoors.

Close the inside valves supplying the outdoor pipes and make sure that the outside valves are kept open to allow any water in the pipe to expand without the pipe breaking. Check your entire plumbing system for water supply pipes that are in unheated areas such as the attic, basement, or crawl space. Insulate those pipes. If installing insulators isn’t something you want to do, then use can provide insulation to some extent by using newspapers.

Preventative action for cold weather

During cold weather there are a number of measures that can be taken to ensure your pipes don’t end up bursting due to freezing water. If your garage has any water supply lines, then your garage doors should be kept closed as much as you can. Keep your kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors open. That allows warmer air coming from the other parts of the home to circulate closer to your plumbing. Make sure chemicals and medications that are normally kept in those cabinets are out of reach of small children. In order to prevent pipes from freezing in very cold weather, water can be run slowly through them.

You also can save yourself lots of trouble by making sure your thermostat temperatures are kept constant no matter what time of day it is. Although that can result in higher power bills, that’s a small price to have to pay when compared with how much its cost to repair water pipes that have burst.

If you are planning on being away from your house during cold weather, your thermostat should be set at temperature over 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

How to thaw frozen pipes…

Whenever you turn a faucet on and drips are all that come out, usually the problem is a frozen pipe. Those pipes that have a tendency to freeze the most are those that are against an exterior wall and where the main service water pipes go into the house. When you are treating frozen pipes, the faucet should be kept open to allow water to flow out as it starts to melt. Water can also be run through frozen pipes so that the ice melts easier.

An electric heater pad can be used to wrap around the pipe so that heat is applied to the frozen part of the pipe. The pipes can also be wrapped with towels that have been soaked in hot water to offer some extra heater. A portable space heater and electric hairdryers are also ideal tools to heat frozen pipes. They however do need to be kept away from any flammable materials.

Using open flame devices should also be avoided such as charcoal stoves, blowtorch, propane heater and kerosene heater. Heat should be applied to a frozen pipe until there is a fully restoration of water pressure and the water is once again flowing freely and normally. If you are not able to find a frozen area or there is one that is inaccessible, then you should contact a professional plumber and don’t try to reach or find it. You could make things even worse and more damage could be done to your plumbing than good.

When a pipe freezes, usually there are others that might also be frozen. You need to check all of the other faucets in your home to determine how extensive your problem is. Whenever you have a doubt, get help from a licensed plumber.

Future planning

To provide your pipes with more insulation and protection, you can move them to areas that are less expose to severe weather conditions and are more covered. In addition you should look for ways of maintaining higher temperatures in areas such as the basement and attic to add more insulation. That will help to ensure the pipes in those areas don’t burst or freeze.

Hopefully this information has helped you should you have frozen water pipes. If you need professional help please feel free to call us for emergency plumbing services to repair frozen pipes.

Tips For Winterizing Your Home’s Exposed Plumbing

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It’s important to winterize your home’s pipe if you live in an area, such as Long Island, where temperatures go below freezing or nearly below freezing. Frozen pipes can lead to serious damage if they burst, which they can easily do. With that said, here are a few steps that can help you protect your home.

1. Find Vulnerable Pipes- You want to find pipes and plumbing that are subject to freezing temperatures. This is the first step you want to take when it comes to winterizing your home’s plumbing. Unheated basements, crawl spaces, garages and exterior walls are some of the most common areas.

Take a look at each area because you want to see if there is exposed plumbing or pipes that are leaking. If you don’t know whether or not if there are problems present, then consider calling a professional plumbing service. A local plumber should be able to tell you what you need to do.

2. Secure Your Exterior Pipes And Your Faucets- Next, you will want to figure out which faucets you can do without, as well as your exterior pipes. If water gets trapped in an exterior pipe, then it may expand. This could end up causing the pipe to burst, break or crack.

If you have garden hoses attached to your home, then disconnect them after draining them and then store them for the winter. If you just leave your hoses attached, then water will remain in the spigot. This can lead to water quickly freezing. A good idea is to cover the faucet with a cover that you can purchase at a hardware store.

If you have a lawn sprinkler system, then shut off the water supply to it. Drain the water from the pipes too. If you don’t know how to do this, then an irrigation company or a local plumber should be contacted. They will be able to provide you with help.

3. Insulate Pipes That Are Exposed- Insulating pipes is one of the best ways to prevent freezing during the winter, and it can actually reduce energy because it will lighten the load on the water heater. You can put some foam tubing or towels on pipes that are exposed in places such as basements and crawl spaces. Electrical heating tape is another good option to use, especially if the pipes are near a source of electricity.

4. Seal Up Troubled Areas- Have a look at exterior and interior areas where pipes and plumbing are exposed, and this includes areas such as crawl spaces and basements. Make sure you look at doorways, windows and vents to ensure seals are not coming loose or they have not been separated. If need be, then repair seals with caulking.

5. Prevent Pipe Problems Indoors- Finally, you’ll want to do what you can to prevent indoor pipe problems. When temperatures outside become very cold, then indoor pipes can be prone to freezing. As a general rule of thumb, you should open up the cabinets below the sinks. Doing this allows warm air to circulate.

Also, let your faucets drip slowly. You should consider setting the thermostat to at least 55 degrees too. The sooner you winterize your plumbing system, the better because it might help you avoid costly repairs and the hassle of dealing with frozen pipes.