We all know that water freezes when it gets cold. Unfortunately, this includes the water that’s inside your home’s pipes. During the typical NYC winter, some homeowners experiencing frozen pipes – especially in pipes that are along outside walls or in uninsulated spaces. Here’s how you can tall if your pipes are frozen. There’s also information about what to do if your pipes are frozen.
How to Tell If Your Pipes Are Frozen
There are a few simple ways to tell if your pipes are frozen. The easiest way is to turn on your faucet. If no water comes out, or only a tiny trickle of water comes out, it’s a sign your pipes are frozen. Water supply pipes can be partially or completely frozen.
Another way to tell if your pipes are frozen is to smell the drain. I know, this sounds disgusting, but you want to know if your pipes are frozen. Get your nose down there and take a big whiff. Does it smell like a nasty trashcan full of yucky stench? Congratulations – your drain pipes may be frozen.
Don’t want to gross yourself out? A third way to see if your pipes are frozen is to look for visible frost on your home’s pipes. This requires getting to your home’s pipes, which are sometimes accessible in the basement or in utility areas.
Pretty sure you have frozen pipes? Here’s the best plumbers near Bedford-Stuyvesant.
Do Frozen Pipes Thaw Out on Their Own?
Frozen pipes do eventually thaw out on their own, but let’s think about this for a minute. It’s currently early in December. The very coldest months of January and February are yet to come. Your pipes won’t thaw until it’s warmer. Do you really want to go all of this time without using your home’s plumbing?
Also! Frozen pipes burst. When pipes burst in your home, all your stuff gets covered with lots of icy water. Stuff like your laptop, your gaming console, your TV, all those irreplaceable family photos and heirlooms – you get the picture.
Don’t wait for pipes to thaw on their own. When you have frozen pipes, call in your Bedford-Stuyvesant plumbers right away. They have the tools and techniques to thaw your pipes safely. They’ll also address any leaks that may have formed due to the freeze, to keep your home from being damaged. They can also help you take steps to keep the pipes from freezing again.
