Are your pipes frozen? This is what you need to do now

If there is no water coming out of the tap now, there is a good chance that your pipes can be frozen. But that does not necessarily mean that your pipes are broken, cracked or broken. There are a few steps you can take now to prevent damage during the next few days.

Tim Jordan, plumbing service manager for Abacus plumbing and air conditioning and electrical, says the Abacus team is answering calls from relevant customers. This is what he says you should do now.

If you have not already done so, shut off the water to your home immediately.

Do not attempt to defrost pipes without turning off the main shut-off valve. This way, if you have burst a pipe, the damage can be limited because there will be no water that can feed the leak.

If you can, fill the tub with water before shutting it down.

(You may not have water to do this.) Even if the water to your house is turned off, you can still flush the toilet if you have water in the tank at the top.

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Turn on the bath faucet or main line in the house.

Once the pipes start to thaw, there is an opening for water to flow through without building up pressure in the pipes. The pressure in the pipes can cause breakage.

‘If your pipes are underground, the pipe is less likely to be broken. “It could be a pipe frozen in the attic, for example pipes that go to the water heater,” Jordan said.

Should you try to defrost pipes yourself?

There are conflicting reports if it’s a good idea to defrost your pipes. You may hear of people using blow dryers or heating pads to thaw frozen pipes. Jordaan says to prevent damage to the pipes, they do NOT recommend that people try to defrost their own pipes.

Your pipes are more likely to come out of this or burst if you let them thaw yourself when the weather gets hot.

The process of thawing can be when the biggest problems occur

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“When it gets hotter, then we’ll start seeing more problems because the pipes are thawing,” Jordan said. “When the pipe thaws, the pressure caused by the water starts to rush through the pipe and can break the pipe.”

The pressure of unfrozen water between the ice and the closed tap is the main cause of fractures in frozen pipes. (It is also a good idea to turn off the main water.)

How do I know if I need to call a plumber for help?

Of course, call a plumber if you have visible signs of damage to pipes. You should also switch if you see water dipping outside or even from the ceiling or walls. You may have to wait! Jordan (with Abacus Plumbing) says they are currently very busy and that all plumbers will be as well. He advises people to get on a list now for a plumber to help as soon as possible.