Frozen drainpipes are a homeowner’s worst nightmare. Not only can harsh temperatures damage the inside of your drains, but it can cause uneven water pressure that forces your pipe to burst. It’s important for every homeowner to know how to prevent serious damage to their plumbing system when their pipes freeze. At Morrison Plumbing, we understand the seriousness of plumbing emergencies, which is why we offer 24/7 drain repair and water line replacement services in Caseyville, IL. Keep reading our blog to learn important information on how you can help unfreeze your home’s kitchen or bathroom pipes.
First Things First, Call a Plumber
Many homeowners tend to be hands-on with their plumbing systems. Oftentimes, with small clogs or dirty drains, DIY treatments do the trick; however, frozen pipes are better left to the pros. Morrison Plumbing is available 24/7 for scheduling emergency plumbing services when homeowners are experiencing frozen pipes in their homes. The first thing you want to do before whipping out your tool bag is to call a professional plumber. If one is not able to make it out to you on the spot, at least you have a service schedule sooner than later in case the situation escalates. In the meantime, we’ve put together a few tips for homeowners to attempt to unfreeze their pipes before our team arrives. Professional plumbers have years of experience and training to thaw frozen pipes and restore your water supply without damaging your plumbing system.
Keep the Faucet Open
The first thing you’ll want to do is slowly turn your faucet on to the hottest setting. Even if nothing is coming out of your kitchen or bathroom faucet due to frozen pipes, this activates your water heater to begin pushing hot water toward your sink or bathtub. For smaller sections of your pipe that are frozen, this can often do the trick or at least prevent the ice from spreading. In Caseyville, IL, winters often experience negative temperatures that can have a serious impact on your drains. To prevent defrosted pipes from refreezing overnight, try keeping the affected faucet dripping for a few hours or overnight to prevent refreezing until our Morrison plumbers arrive. This is by no means a solution, but it can be imperative in preventing your pipes from bursting with excess pressure.
Hot Water & Salt Down the Drain
Mixing salt and boiling hot water together is a great remedy for de-freezing plumbing pipes. This mixture reacts the same way that salt on your concrete melts ice to create a smooth surface. You may need to do this a few times before your pipes are able to thaw, but once you notice water coming through your faucet and there is no longer frost on the outside of the pipe, you should be able to eliminate any serious damage. Morrison Plumbing in Caseyville, IL recommends salt and hot water as a precursor to our services, where frozen pipes can be inspected thoroughly for damage.
Space Heater
If you’ve tried using hot water and salt and nothing seems to be working, a space heater is a great tool to increase the temperature of your covered plumbing system. Depending on the location of your frozen pipe, a space heater can be a great tool to directly thaw any frozen water in your drain. Once your pipes are no longer below freezing, you should start to notice condensation forming on your pipes under the sink or water coming safely from your faucet. A space heater is a great temporary fix, but don’t forget to schedule an immediate repair at (618) 408-1446 from Morrison Plumbing when handling frozen pipes.
