Northern New Jersey is in winter’s icy grip, but it’s best to keep that ice outside of your home’s pipes.
Burst pipes can be a costly headache for homeowners, so it is important to know if your pipes are frozen before they burst. Here’s how:
How Do I Know If My Pipes Are Frozen?
- No water or just a trickle comes out of your open faucet:Â This could indicate the pipe leading to that faucet is frozen.
- Bad smells are coming from the drain or faucet: Odors cannot filter out of the frozen pipe and instead are forced back into the home’s faucet.
- Your ceiling or drywall is damp: This can indicate that there’s not only a frozen pipe but that the pipe may have already cracked.
- You hear strange sounds: Banging or whistling from pipes or a strange gurgle when you flush the toilet are clear signs of pipe issues.
- You can see frost on the outside of the water pipe: Take this as a warning that your pipes are too cold and could be freezing.
- You can see ice seeping out of a bulge or crack in a pipe: This is a clear sign of ice in that line. You need to call a plumber to thaw and repair the damaged pipe to avoid costly damage to your home.
How Do I Prevent My Pipes From Freezing?
Here are some things you can do to minimize the chances of having a frozen pipe:
- Keep your thermostat at a minimum of 55 degrees, whether day or night or if the home is occupied.
- Make sure to have good insulation on pipes that touch exterior walls.
- Keep the garage doors closed to protect water lines.
- Open cabinets to allow warm air to reach under-cabinet plumbing.
- Disconnect your outdoor hoses and shut off the indoor valves supplying the outdoor spigots.
- Drain water from your outdoor sprinkler system and pool supply lines.
- Allow your faucets to drip cold water when extremely cold temperatures are in the forecast. This keeps water moving ever so slightly in the system.
When Should I Call Russo Bros. & Co.?
If you discover a frozen pipe, you can attempt to thaw the pipe yourself. In some instances, however, it may be difficult to find which pipe is frozen or access the frozen pipe.
At Russo Bros. & Co., our plumbers can respond to your frozen pipe with emergency plumbing repair. Call our live call operators 24/7 at (973) 887-1334Â for fast service.
