While winter has taken its time arriving in NYC, colder temperatures are now here. Once the mercury drops below 32 degrees, water can freeze – and that means problems for your unprotected or exposed pipes.
What are the signs of frozen pipes?
If you turn on the faucet and no water comes out, there could be a number of things going on. But when this happens and it’s very cold, the most common cause is frozen pipes. When the water in your pipes freezes, it means no water can make it to the faucet, toilet, or your other other plumbing fixtures.
Other signs of frozen pipes can include a nasty, foul odor – this can be an indicator that the water in your drain pipes has frozen – and visible frost on the outside of any exposed, uninsulated pipes.
What should you do if your pipes freeze?
Thawing frozen pipes takes time. If you know where the pipe is frozen, such as the trap under a sink, opening cabinet doors so the heat can get to the pipe may offer some relief. However, this method is very slow and most families need their plumbing working much faster than that. Your best strategy is to call in a licensed NYC plumber, who can safely thaw your pipes. Never, ever use a torch to thaw your pipes as the risk of fire is extremely high.
What are the signs of burst pipes?
When water freezes, it expands. There’s a limit to how much frozen water your home plumbing can contain without becoming damaged. Once the force of the frozen water exceeds the bursting capacity of your pipes, your pipes will fail. You will generally know this when you discover a bunch of slushy, icy water going everywhere. This is actually a plumbing emergency and you will want to call your licensed plumber in NYC right away. Do not go into the water, because the risk of injury and electrocution is very high.
