How to Keep Your Pipes From Freezing This Winter

How to Keep Your Pipes From Freezing This Winter

Winter can be a beautiful season, but plunging temperatures bring the risk of frozen pipes. A frozen pipe can burst, leading to serious water damage and expensive repairs. Expert Plumbing Service can explain how to protect your plumbing to save you from trouble when cold weather hits Illinois. This guide will explain ways to keep pipes from freezing, how to spot the warning signs, and what you can do to fix frozen pipes.

Why Do Pipes Freeze in the Winter?

When the temperature drops below 32°, the water inside your pipes can turn to ice. As water freezes, it expands. This expansion puts immense pressure on the pipe. If the pressure becomes too great, the pipe can crack or burst. Pipes most at risk are those in unheated areas like basements, attics, garages, and crawl spaces. Those located in exterior walls with little insulation are also vulnerable.

Signs Your Pipes Might Be Freezing

Catching a freezing or frozen pipe early can prevent a disaster. Look out for these warning signs:

• No Water or a Slow Trickle – You may have a frozen blockage in your pipes if you turn on a faucet and only a drip comes out.
• Frost on Your Pipes – Visibly check pipes in unheated areas. If you see a layer of frost on the outside, the water inside is likely frozen.
• Strange Smells – A strange odor from a drain or faucet could indicate a pipe is frozen and blocked.

Effective Ways to Prevent Frozen Pipes

A few simple steps can help keep your pipes from freezing:

• Let Faucets Drip – During extreme cold snaps, letting a small amount of cold-water drip from faucets can help prevent pipes from freezing. The moving water makes it harder for ice to form.
• Keep Your Home Warm – Maintain a consistent temperature in your home, even when you’re away. Don’t set the thermostat lower than 55°.
• Open Cabinet Doors – Open cabinet doors to allow warmer air from the room to circulate around the plumbing under sinks in kitchens and bathrooms.
• Insulate Pipes – Use pipe sleeves or heat tape to insulate pipes in unheated areas like basements or crawl spaces. This is one of the most effective ways to keep pipes from freezing.
• Seal Air Leaks – Check for air leaks around windows, doors, and wherever pipes enter your home. Seal any gaps with caulk or insulation to keep cold air out.

What to Do When Pipes Freeze

If you think a pipe has frozen, it’s important to act quickly. First, shut off the main water supply to your home. This will prevent a major flood if the pipe bursts. Next, try to gently thaw the frozen pipe. You can do this by applying heat to the frozen section. Use a hairdryer, an electric heating pad, or towels soaked in hot water to unfreeze water pipes. Start by heating the pipe closest to the faucet and work toward the blockage. Never use an open flame, like a blowtorch or propane heater, as this can damage the pipes and create a fire hazard.

Contact Us for Pipe Services in Illinois Today

Knowing how to unfreeze frozen pipes is useful, but the job is often best left to a professional like you’ll find at Expert Plumbing Service in DuPage, Will, Kendall, or Kane County. If you can’t locate the frozen area, you can’t thaw the pipe, or the pipe has burst, contact us immediately.