Cold winter temperatures can cause big headaches for homeowners who don’t take steps to protect their pipes from freezing.
How can you tell if your pipes are frozen?
When you turn on the faucet and no water comes out, it’s a good sign your pipes have frozen. You may experience a slight amount of water running when you turn on the faucet. This amount doesn’t increase in volume even if you turn the taps on fully. This is a sign that your pipes are in the process of freezing.
Be aware that the pipes leading to and away from your toilet can freeze. If you have reason to suspect that any of your other household pipes are frozen, proceed in the assumption that the toilet pipes are also frozen. Do not flush the toilet until you know it is safe to do so. Your local plumber will be able to assist you with this.
Other signs to look for to tell you if your pipes are frozen include the presence of frost on any exposed plumbing pipes that you see.
Burst Pipes: Wintertime Plumbing Disaster!
Frozen pipes are bad, but burst pipes are worse. Pipes burst when the water inside them freezes and swells. Once the pipe bursts, generally the ice cascades out first, followed by the rest of the water that was available in the household pipes at that time.
This creates a big, cold, terrible mess, inside your home. Depending on where the pipes burst, your possessions could be damaged. Water and electricity are a very bad combination, so do not enter any flooded areas as the risk of electrocution is real. There is also a danger of falling and becoming injured.
If your pipes burst, call your NYC plumber emergency number right away. They will provide you with instructions on what to do on the scene and dispatch help to you promptly.
