Cold weather will soon come to Columbia, and naturally, you’re worried about frozen pipes. It’s smart to be concerned, because frozen water supply lines can burst, causing serious damage that costs a fortune to repair.
Below, learn how to prevent pipes from freezing with these Columbia, TN, winter plumbing tips.
Plumbing Winterization for Tennessee Homes
Frozen pipe prevention requires a proactive approach. To prevent freezing pipes, follow these winter home maintenance tips:
- Tour your property and find pipes that are most at risk for freezing. Pipes in exterior walls and crawl spaces freeze readily. So, too, do swimming pool supply lines and water sprinkler supply lines.
- Know where your water meter and shutoff valve are located so you can quickly turn off the water if your exposed pipes freeze.
- If you have in-ground sprinkler systems, drain them, and store hoses indoors.
- Insulate water pipes with a few sheets of newspaper, cardboard, or heat tape. An electric heating pad wrapped around pipes works wonders, too. Wrapping pipes is a must when temperatures drop below freezing.
- Keep your garage door closed, especially if it houses exposed water pipes.
- Keep your cabinet doors open in the kitchen and bathrooms. Opening kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors allows warmer air to flow around water supply pipes.
- Allow your faucets to drip when temperatures plummet below freezing. A cold water drip keeps the water in motion, reducing the chance of the pipe freezing.
- Regularly schedule residential or commercial plumbing maintenance. Maintenance includes drain cleaning, which reduces the risk of frozen pipes.
What To Do if a Pipe Freezes
Does only a trickle come out of the faucet when you turn on the sink? This is a surefire sign of freezing pipes. Here’s how to thaw frozen pipes the safe way if the above tips to protect your pipes from freezing haven’t worked:
- Open the faucet connected to the frozen pipe so that water can come through once the ice melts.
- Apply heat to the frozen pipes with a portable space heater (both an electric space heater and a propane heater will work fine) or an electric hair dryer. Remove flammable materials from the area before doing this.
- Soak towels in warm water (or put them in the dryer) and wrap them around the pipes.
- Watch for leaks in your pipes as the ice thaws. If you spot water dripping through cracks in the pipes, call a plumber for help ASAP.
Rely on Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup for Winter Plumbing Preparation
Struggling with freezing pipes in your exterior walls, no thanks to Columbia’s cold weather? Call Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup! They can protect your cold water pipes from freezing with regular maintenance. They also offer:
- Septic tank pumping
- Hydro jetting
- Sump Pump Solutions
- Sewer line services and excavation
- Zero dig pipe restoration
- Water damage cleanup
- Leak repair
- Leaky Faucet Repair
Whether you need maintenance to prevent a pipe bursting or speedy water damage restoration, you can count on Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup. Call (931) 330-2060 to schedule service from an emergency plumber now.
