In the winter, pipes freeze and burst. Any Manhattan plumber can tell you this happens for one simple reason. Water expands when it freezes – getting bigger as it gets colder, expanding beyond the confines of whatever it’s contained in. A neat way to illustrate this principle for your kids is to throw a water bottle in the freezer. The next morning, you’ll see how the bottle is distended and bent out of shape by the force of the water freezing inside it. When the water that’s frozen is inside your home’s pipes, the result can be burst pipes.
When your pipes burst, ice and water goes everywhere. If that water is going into a freezing cold environment, such as a cold storage area or an area in your building where the insulation isn’t all it should be, it will also freeze. Not only does this wreck all of your stuff, it’s a dangerous situation. Remember always that water conducts electricity: never enter a flooded room because it is not safe!
When you discover your pipes have burst, call your Manhattan plumber right away. Your water supply needs to be shut off. If you don’t know how to do this yourself, your Manhattan plumber may be able to advise you. Burst pipes need to be replaced.
Pipes that have frozen but not burst can be thawed. If you’re not sure if your pipes are frozen, turn on a faucet. If only a tiny trickle of water comes out, or no water at all, the odds are pretty good your pipes have frozen. It is time to call your Manhattan plumber. A licensed NYC plumber will use heat guns and other tools as needed to thaw your pipes safely.
To prevent pipes from freezing, they can be insulated. Talk to your Manhattan plumber about heat tape, as well as freeze protection of fire suppression systems: you don’t want your sprinklers freezing!
