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Signs Of Frozen Pipes
While it might not seem like a climate like Texas would cause our pipes to freeze, warmer climates are actually more susceptible to frozen pipes. Because Texas winters tend to be pretty mild, we don’t think about insulating areas that could potentially freeze, hence pipes freezing under your sink. There are prevention methods to take, but sometimes that doesn’t work. To ensure your pipes are protected from bursting, here are three signs you have frozen pipes.
Water Isn’t Coming Out of the Faucet
Turning on your kitchen or bathroom should be pretty easy, with water flowing freely. If you try to turn on the faucet and there is no water coming out, then you might have frozen pipes. Of course, there could be other issues, but if the temperature is cold enough, you may be dealing with frozen pipes.
Frost Is Seen On The Pipes
The surest way to know if your pipes are frozen? Check under the sink and see if there is frost on the pipes. If you went to bed with the weather being fine, but work up to colder weather, it’s possible the pipes are frozen if the proper precautions were not taken beforehand.
The Weather Is Cold Enough
Another one of the simple signs you have frozen pipes is that the weather is just cold enough to cause water to freeze. Check the weather and see if the temperature will fall to 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below; that is when you should be very alert of pipes freezing.
How To Prevent Frozen Pipes At Home
The weather forecasts are disputed, but it looks like we may get quite the freeze this evening! That being said, we wanted to make sure that our clients know how to prepare their residential plumbing for a freeze, particularly since our Texas climate doesn’t typically require us to make such preparations. Today we will go over how to prevent your pipes from freezing!
Insulate Your Pipes
Keep Your Pipes From Freezing!
The best and most effective thing you can do is to insulate your pipes. It is quick, easy, and affordable, so there’s no reason not to get it done! Your local hardware store will have a few different pipe insulation options to choose from, so once you’ve chosen one, take it home and wrap your pipes. Some people secure the insulation with tape, but we recommend securing it with zip ties, for easier removal in the future. By insulating your pipes, you protect them from frost and ice. Additionally, remember to cover your outdoor faucets as well.
Open Your Cabinets
Another way to protect your pipes is to open your cabinets. Not all of them, but at least the cabinets that house the sinks in your home. When you open those cabinets, you’ll notice how cold they are inside. By opening them, you are allowing the warm air in your home to also keep your pipes warm.
Let Your Faucets Drip
Last but not least, allow the faucets in your home to drip just a bit. This prevents them from building up pressure if they do happen to freeze, which prevents your pipes from bursting. Additionally, a dripping faucet allows the water in the pipes to move, and moving water is less likely to freeze than still water.
If you are looking for to unfreeze your water pipes, or other emergency plumbing services in Plano, TX, Call At-Ease Plumbing today at (972) 440-5644 for fast repairs!