How to Know When to Call a Professional to Fix Your Frozen Pipes

As it gets colder outside, your pipes are in danger of freezing. When pipes freeze they inhibit water flow and can cause damage to your piping system and can even burst, causing water damage throughout your home. In some cases, you can thaw frozen pipes yourself with things around the house and get your plumbing working again. In other cases, you will need to contact a professional to deal with the frozen pipes and then make any needed repairs. How do you know when you can tackle the problem yourself and when you should contact someone who specializes in frozen pipe repairs on Long Island?

When to Thaw Pipes Yourself

When you suspect you have a frozen pipe, because of a decrease in water pressure or because an appliance isn’t working the way it should be, visually inspect pipes that are exposed to the air, looking for ice or frost. When you find the frozen area, check for bulging, cracks or breaks. If you don’t find any of these signs, you can thaw the pipe yourself.

First, open the faucet that is connected to the frozen pipes. Then, hold a blow dryer close to the pipes and move it along the frozen area to melt the ice. Wrapping an electric heating pad around the frozen area can also work and if you are working with a large area, set up a space heater to warm the pipes, keeping it a safe distance from the walls. Never use an open flame to thaw pipes. When water begins to flow out of the faucet again, you can stop thawing the pipes.

When to Call an Expert

If the frozen pipe is broken, bulging or behind a wall you will need to have an expert thaw it and make sure your system is safe to use. You can also contact a professional if you have tried to thaw your pipes yourself, but weren’t able to.

Thawing pipes that are bulging or broken could cause flooding, which can lead to expensive water damage. Broken or cracked pipes will also need to be repaired or replaced before you can use your water system again.

When you know when it is safe to thaw pipes yourself and when you should contact a professional, you can avoid extensive damage. For more tips on dealing with frozen pipes, visit the Pat Dolan Plumbing website. Contact us for frozen pipe repairs on Long Island so we can take care of your frozen pipes for you and you can get back to celebrating the holidays.