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Chicago Plumbing Experts Shares the Cold Reality of Frozen Pipes

frozen pipes during wintertime in chicago.

The Cold Reality of Frozen Pipes Revealed by Chicago Plumbing Experts

Chicago, known for its harsh winters and freezing temperatures, is a city where residents often experience the unfortunate consequences of frozen pipes. Plumbing experts in the city have seen firsthand the damage that frozen pipes can cause, and they are sharing their insights to raise awareness and help homeowners prevent this common winter issue.

Understanding the Phenomenon of Frozen Pipes

When the temperature drops below freezing, water in pipes can freeze and expand. This expansion puts pressure on the pipes, increasing the risk of cracks or bursts. Not only can frozen pipes disrupt the water flow in your home, but they can also lead to significant water damage when the ice thaws and the pipes rupture.

The severity of the problem depends on the duration and intensity of the freezing temperatures. In Chicago, where winters can be particularly harsh, the risk of frozen pipes is heightened. It is essential for residents to take preventive measures to avoid costly plumbing repairs.

Tips for Preventing Freezing Pipes

Chicago plumbing experts recommend the following tips to protect your pipes from freezing:

  • Insulate Your Pipes: Make sure all exposed pipes, especially those in unheated areas like basements, crawl spaces, and attics, are properly insulated. This can help maintain a higher temperature and prevent freezing.
  • Seal Air Leaks: Check for any air leaks near pipes and seal them properly. Cold air drafts can cause pipes to freeze more quickly.
  • Open Cabinet Doors: If you have pipes running through cabinets, keep the doors open to allow warm air to circulate and reach the pipes.
  • Allow Faucets to Drip: When the temperature drops significantly, allowing faucets to drip can relieve pressure in the pipes and prevent freezing.
  • Keep the Heat On: Even if you are away from home, do not turn off the heating completely. Set the thermostat to a low but consistent temperature to prevent freezing.
a burst water pipe in need of repair.

When frozen pipes thaw and burst, large amounts of water can flood your home

The Risks and Consequences of Frozen Pipes

Chicago residents must understand the potential risks and consequences of freezing pipes. Failure to address frozen pipes promptly can lead to the following:

  • Water damage: When frozen pipes thaw and burst, large amounts of water can flood your home, damaging walls, floors, furniture, and personal belongings.
  • Mold growth: Moisture from leaking or burst pipes can create an ideal environment for mold growth, which can be hazardous to your health.
  • Structural damage: The force of bursting pipes can cause structural damage to your property, requiring costly repairs.
  • Disrupted water supply: Freezing pipes can prevent water from flowing, leaving you without access to essential amenities.
  • Higher water bills: Leaking or burst pipes can result in water wastage, leading to higher utility bills.

What to Do if Your Pipes Freeze

If you discover that your pipes have frozen, it is crucial to take immediate action to prevent further damage. Follow these steps:

  • Keep the faucet open: As you thaw the freezing pipes, water and steam will be released. Keeping the faucet open will allow the water to flow and relieve pressure.
  • Apply heat: Use a hairdryer, heat lamp, or electric heating pad to slowly thaw the frozen sections of the pipe. Start from the nearest faucet and work your way towards the blockage.
  • Avoid open flames: Never use an open flame or blowtorch to thaw pipes, as this can lead to fires or cause damage to the pipe.
  • Contact a professional plumber: If you are unable to thaw the pipes yourself or if there is a burst pipe, it is crucial to contact a licensed plumber immediately to assess and repair the damage.

In Summary

Frozen pipes are a common problem faced by homeowners in Chicago during winter. Taking preventive measures and knowing how to handle frozen pipes can help avoid costly repairs and damage to your property. By following the advice and tips provided by Chicago plumbing experts, residents can protect their pipes and ensure a smooth and uninterrupted water supply even in the coldest months.

How to Survive a Burst Pipe in the Winter

A handywoman is holding a plumber’s wrench

Harsh weather conditions can cause you and your household a lot of trouble. In the winter period, there are so many things to take care of, and your pipes are definitely one of them. Many household owners know how dangerous low temperatures can be, especially when there is no proper insulation on the household pipes. They can freeze and burst, causing great floods and serious property damage. That is why it is wise to get ready and know what to do in case of an emergency. For all those who think in advance, here are several main steps on how to survive a burst pipe in the winter.

The first signs of a problem

There is nothing that can completely save you from the damage when the pipe burst already happens. Still, the sooner you detect the signs of the problem, the less damage you will have to deal with. That’s why it is important to react to the first, even minor signs that something wrong is happening:

  • Occasional dripping sounds and the lack of water pressure are some things all of us have met at least once, but still, most tend to disregard them
  • Water spots on your walls or ceiling and water puddles are more obvious signs, but they say the problem is not at its first phase as well
  • The leaks of the main water shut-off are the most common and the most obvious signs

If any of the above-mentioned happen to you, especially during the winter, you need to reach out for help immediately. However, if you suspect something wrong is going on but cannot detect the problem, you can always hire a professional leak detection service in the area to confirm your suspicions.

1. The main water valve – the first step in surviving a burst pipe in the winter

The most important thing everyone should know about their home is where the main water valve is located. This is especially important if you are about to move into a new home. As professional movers from Last Call Hot Tub Movers suggest, experience is a crucial factor in relocation matters. But, if this is your first move into a new home, it would be wise to ask the previous homeowners about the main water shut-off or the condition of the household pipes before you decide to make a deal.

Metal pipes with big valves to turn off as the first step in our guide on how to survive a burst pipe in the winter

Act fast and smart

In the emergency case, turning off the main water supply will stop water from causing further damage to your property. On the other hand, it will also give you some time to pull yourself together until professional help comes.

In most cases, the water valves and the water heater are located in the same place and are usually turned clockwise to be turned off.

2. Deal with the electricity

All electrical devices can be potentially dangerous in contact with water. What’s more, if a pipe burst happened in your home, being surrounded by water while your electrical system is on can be fatal. Therefore, after you make sure you have turned the water off, you should also deal with turning off the electricity. You can simply turn it off in the part of your home that is flooded or even in the whole household.

In case you are not sure whether or not the power is off, calling on the electrical company for help will be the wisest option.

3. Contact the plumber

Now that you have dealt with the first two steps in our guide to surviving a burst pipe in the winter, it’s smart to contact a local plumber right away. Remember that the sooner you get the right professional help, the less consequence you will feel. Once a emergency plumber arrives at your home, they will start fixing the problem. What’s more, they can also help you with creating the whole repair plan, as well as with finding the most affordable solution for your current state. Finally, the most important thing is that your smart moves, as well as their prompt reaction, will help your pipes not remain broken for a long time.

A plumber is installing the pipes

Let the professionals deal with the problem

4. Draining the pipes

Make sure that no water remains in your pipes after you turn off the main supply. Push the toilets, and remember to run first cold and then hot water through all your faucets. Plus, do not forget to turn the water heaters off, since they should not be in function while the water is off.

5. Remove water

Once when you are done with all these basic steps, you should turn to saving your home from further damage. Water can be pretty harmful to your floor, walls, and the whole house construction. So, try your best to remove as much water as possible from the flooded area. When we talk about ground floors or basements, things will go a little bit easier. You can use a drain, buckets, mops, and vacuums to remove the water. On the other hand, if you have a pipe burst problem on some of the upper floors, the only way is to let the water drain out. This time you can use fans to speed up the process.

Prevention

Once you have faced the repair processes with a burst pipe, especially in the winter period, you’ve probably learned the lesson. It is high time to take steps to save your pipes from freezing:

  • Letting your faucets drip, at least a little, will help a lot. The water will be in constant motion, and it will not freeze that easily
  • Insulating the pipes is also a great idea. This is especially useful if your pipes are exposed, or set along the exterior wall, for example. Use some foam, fiberglass, or even newspaper to cover the pipes and protect them
  • Open the under-sink cabinet doors in both your kitchen and your bathroom. Warm air will circulate, and your pipes will not freeze during the cold days
  • Maintain your piping system, and let the plumber control them regularly. If breaks and cracks are located on time, it will save you a lot of money and stress, too
A close-up picture of a faucet in a bath

If you think about prevention, you won’t have to deal with how to survive a burst pipe in the winter

These would be the main things you need to remember if you want to survive a burst pipe in the winter. Keep them as a reminder just in case something unexpected happens to you in the next winter season.