Frozen or burst pipes during the cold weather months can be one of the most costly maintenance issues you'll face as a property owner. A burst pipe suddenly flooding your kitchen can quickly become an out-of-hand emergency that could cost you thousands of dollars in damage.
Steps to Take Ahead of Time
If you own property in an area that experiences cold weather, you need to be aware of seasonal maintenance tasks that will help you protect your property as the weather changes each year. One of the most important steps is to winterize your pipes to ensure they won't freeze or burst when the temperature drops. If you are looking for a professional plumber for this kind of problem, then you can navigate plumbingfremontca.com/bursted-pipe for burst pipe repair.
This includes action items like insulating any exposed pipes, detaching garden hoses, and covering outdoor faucets. If the weather gets cold enough, you may even consider leaving a faucet dripping or opening cabinet doors during the coldest parts of the day. No matter how prepared you might be, accidents and emergencies still happen.
Steps to Take for Frozen Pipes
A frozen pipe will not necessarily burst, so if you can catch a frozen pipe early on, you could save yourself a major headache. When your area experiences frigid temperatures, be sure to check your plumbing and keep an eye out for warning signs like faucets only releasing small amounts of water or toilets not refilling when flushed. If you do run into one of these issues, you're likely dealing with a frozen pipe.
If this happens, your first step should be to cut off the water supply to that section of the plumbing. Expanding and freezing water can quickly cause damage. Even if the water supply is shut off, you will likely still deal with some leaking from the water that defrosts after the pipe has thawed.