With winter on the way, it’s vital for Clifton, NJ, residents to recognize the hazards and consequences of frozen or broken water pipes. According to CostHelper, the average cost to fix a busted water pipe is $900, with additional water damage repairs added.
Our BJC Clifton Plumbers Services team wants to supply you with all of the necessary information to understand this prevalent problem, ensure safeguards against frozen pipes, and know That frozen water expands as it freezes.
How Do Pipes Freeze and What Happens?
Because frozen water expands when it freezes, pipes may break due to the increased pressure. The most vulnerable are water pipes in your NJ house that are uninsulated and positioned along exterior walls, attics, basements, crawl spaces, and kitchen cabinets. For more information.
Outside water lines, such as those connecting outside hoses, sprinkler systems, irrigation systems, or swimming pools, are equally vulnerable if not emptied before winter arrives.
The older your water pipes are, the more probable it is that frozen water may create significant difficulties and damage. Furthermore, since many contemporary houses have complex plumbing systems, a broken pipe may cause catastrophic damage.
A single burst pipe may release up to eight gallons of water every minute, generating thousands of dollars in damage in less than an hour. This might leave your house or workplace unusable for many weeks.
Prevention Tips
You can minimize the probability of frozen or broken water pipes by taking a few basic precautions before winter. Consider the following precautions:
- Unplug and drain any outside hoses. Turn off the water supply to these hoses and leave the outdoor valve open to allow any residual water to drain. On spigots, consider applying an insulator.
- Insulate any exposed water lines that are in danger of freezing.
- Wrap your hot water tank with insulation.
- Know where your home’s main cutoff is and how to use it.
- If you have water lines in your garage, keep them closed.
- On exceptionally chilly days, open your kitchen and bathroom cabinets to enable warm air to travel around the pipes.
- Let a trickle of room-temperature water stream from the taps, particularly at night when it’s cooler.
- Set your thermostat to no lower than 55 degrees.
- If you will be out of town for a lengthy time, empty the water system by cutting off the water supply and running all fixtures until there is no more water flowing.
Warning Signs
Even if safeguards are taken, frozen pipes may occur. You should be aware of homeowner-specific warning signals indicating a frozen water pipe.
For example, suppose your water flow is significantly reduced or halted at a specific fixture. In that case, you might have frozen water elsewhere in your system. In rare situations, a frozen pipe may generate a leak before bursting completely. Look for moist areas on your walls or ceilings.
Keep the faucet open if you fear a pipe has frozen. As the frozen section melts, water will flow again, aiding in melting the ice in the pipe. Wrap hot water-soaked cloths around the pipes. To help them thaw.
Warming a region with a possibly frozen pipe using a heating pad, hair dryer, or space heater is possible. However, you must exercise extreme caution while using electrical equipment near water sources and take fire precautions. A licensed plumber should handle frozen pipes near electrical outlets.
After a Pipe Bursts
If you have a burst water pipe, you’ll want to act as promptly as possible to limit the damage. First, turn off your house’s water supply. Before an emergency strikes, you’ll want to know where this valve is.
Turn off any electric appliances near the water flow and move your belongings out of the path. If feasible, use buckets to catch and gather as much water as possible. Meanwhile, utilize your kitchen and bathroom faucets to drain any remaining water in your plumbing system through functional drains.
Once you’ve dealt with the immediate crisis, contact an expert to fix your pipes. Before getting your insurance company, take photographs and detail your damages.
Call us for all your Plumbing Needs
If you have frozen pipes or other plumbing problems, contact BJC Clifton Plumbers Services in Clifton, NJ, for assistance. Call (973) 858-5005 or submit an online service request.
