Frozen Pipes!
Winter can cause many problems for your home and one of the most common is frozen water pipes. As we all know, living in Northern Alberta, we are quite familiar with the mighty cold snaps that occur during the winter months. If you suspect you have a frozen pipe, it’s very important that you locate the blockage, defrost it as quicky as possible and call a professional plumber if needed.
Locating the Frozen Pipe
– Due to water expanding when frozen, the force is often strong enough to make a pipe bulge noticeably. A frozen pipe may also have a layer of condensation or small cracks on its surface. If you can’t determine any visual clues, you can also use your hands to feel along your pipes to check for sections that feel colder than the rest. Keep in mind there may be multiple frozen areas within a single water pipe, especially in pipes that run against the exterior walls.
Defrosting the Frozen Pipe
– Once you have located the blockage, turn off the valve and turn on the cold water tap to drain any water that remains in the pipes. Apply heat where you can and call a professional plumber to help assist you in looking for and repairing any cracks or leaks and address the problem without causing further damage.
The most important thing to do is to take the proper steps to prevent your pipes from freezing in the future. You can do this in many different ways such as adding high-quality insulation to all exterior walls and pipes, use pipe covers to directly insulate exposed pipes and also, consider running a small stream of water at all times during the frigid temperatures if you have an area that is prone to frozen pipes. And remember, always be sure you know where your main water shut off valve is located in case your pipes happen to burst!
Call True North Mechanical for all your plumbing needs in Fort McMurray! Our friendly, professional plumbers will be happy to assist you! 780-713-4004