What causes frozen pipes?

Frozen pipes are one of the most annoying cold-weather ailments, but what precisely causes them? Water may freeze inside plastic pipes during the temperature drop, which causes it to expand and pressurize. In addition to impeding appropriate water flow, frozen pipes run the risk of bursting and flooding your property. Given this, it’s imperative that homeowners are aware of what to do in the event that pipes freeze. 

How to handle a busted pipe

You will need to take quick action if a pipe bursts in your house to prevent further damage. Turn off the water running in your house. By doing this, you can reduce the quantity of water that leaks through your walls. In the impacted region of your home, you might also want to turn off the power. After taking these safety measures, it’s time to call a commercial plumber in Melbourne and begin cleaning up the mess that has been made. To prevent the growth of mould and mildew, try to get rid of as much water and remaining moisture as you can. You could also need to hire additional professionals to take care of damage to your walls, carpet, and flooring, depending on how serious your situation is.

How to thaw pipes

What signs of frozen pipes can you look for? It may be a sign that water inside the pipes has frozen and is obstructing a free flow if you turn on the bathroom or kitchen faucet and only observe a trickle or a few droplets of water come out. However, keep calm. You might be better prepared than you realise to handle the circumstance. This quick guide will show you how to unfreeze a frozen pipe.

• Open the faucet.

Keep using it. Even a small amount of drippage from the faucet can save a pipe from exploding. It’s easy to understand: when freezing occurs, tremendous pressure develops between the faucet and the ice blockage. This pressure is released by an open faucet, which helps to stop a burst from happening.

• Warm up the frozen spot.

Apply heat gradually using a hair dryer. There are various methods for doing this. You can use a space heater or a hair dryer as an external heat source, or you can wrap the pipes in thermostatically controlled heat tape. Using a propane torch poses a fire risk and may cause pipe damage.

If you elect to use a hair dryer, start blowing air near the end of the pipe closest to the faucet and move it gradually toward the coldest part. Keep in mind that while heat is being provided, the faucet should remain open.

• Keep applying heat.

Continue heating after the water pressure is back to full. After the pipe has thawed, it’s still a good idea to leave the faucet open for a little while. The ice will have more time to retreat completely from the line.

• Check all of the faucets, and avoid future pipe freezing.

To check for additional frozen pipes, check each faucet in your house. One frozen pipe could indicate the presence of further ones.

Call a hot water plumber in Melbourne if the issue continues. By following a few straightforward measures, you can stop pipes from freezing again:

• Maintain your home’s temperature above freezing and turn off all of the water before you leave.
• Make careful to keep any water pipes insulated with foam rubber or heating cable, especially those that are close to exterior walls.
• Keep cabinet doors ajar to promote airflow.
• Allow cold water to drip from your faucets; even a trickle makes it more difficult for a pipe to freeze. To avoid wasting the water, you can catch the drips and use it again, possibly to clean or water plants.

When Do Water Pipe Repairs Need to Be Done?

If frozen pipes are not thawed, eventually, you will notice that your pipes have burst. Run to turn off the house’s main water pipe. It is quite useful to know where to find the main water shut-off valve. The main shut-off valve is typically situated close to the water meter, but just in case, be aware of its location. Search for a drain plumber near me and call them to fix the water pipe.

If you want to clear blocked drains in Melbourne, you can visit our website, fill out the form or call us at 1300777877!