As New York City's plumbers work to defrost frozen pipes, the winter's cold spell continues to batter the city and its environs.
Even if you take care to run a trickle of water through your pipes during the coldest parts of the year, hundreds of homes have been harmed by the record winter lows.
You may defrost your own pipes in a number of methods to restore water flow.
Your Source of Water
Find your main water valve before you even begin pipe thawing. Your main water valve manages all the water going to the plumbing in your home, usually outside or in a garage. Switch it off. Verify that no water is running through the home's faucets by testing several of them. In the event that a pipe bursts during thawing process, you do not want to start a flood.
Clean up the area
The water will discover a way to exit the pipes as you defrost them. If there is a lot of water, cover the area's floor with rags and keep a bucket nearby. Additionally useful to have on hand are sponges and mops. Ice-filled pipe cracks will begin to leak gradually as the thawing process continues. Catch as much water as you can to stop any nearby mildew or mold from growing.
Options for Heating
If the frozen pipe is accessible, like a kitchen sink pipe, your goal is to safely thaw it out. Use a hair dryer, heater, or heat lamp to start the heating process. Keep your hands far away from the pipe and hot element. The pipe should ideally be hot enough to melt the ice but not too hot to further harm the plumbing. Try thermostatically controlled heat tape as an alternative to keep the pipe warm for thawing.
Alternatives for Hot Water
Many individuals in New York depend on hot water to melt frozen pipes. You may, for instance, take off the sink trap to uncover the open piping in the wall. You insert a garden hose into the open pipe and force it until the ice is struck. To transfer water from the pots to the hose, use a funnel and a nearby pot of hot water. It can take many pots of water, depending on the amount of the ice, to successfully melt it. This freezing technique does, however, call for composure. The hot water will initially try to reverse back into the hose. To prevent any scalding injuries, proceed with caution as the ice begins to thaw.
Prevent Fire Risks
Some homeowners use more forceful methods, warming the pipes with a propane torch. Not at all. In addition to the risk of burns, the intense heat could harm the plumbing even more. In response to a torched flame and ice that has been trapped, welds and cracks grow and shrink. Thaw ice using other heating techniques. They are safe than open fires even if they take longer to work.
Changing harmed pipes
The pipes may have multiple cracks that are leaking water once they have thawed. Even if certain pipes can be fixed, replacing them is a superior option. The pipes will continue to be harmed by the expansion and contraction of water, which makes small cracks enlarge. Think about contacting a New York plumber to repair your broken pipes. They can swiftly identify problem areas so you can have a functional plumbing system the following day.
You should gently defrost your pipes sometimes while the cold weather continues to afflict most of New York to prevent costly plumbing repairs. Although there may not be many plumbers available, you can create a secure thawing plan to keep the house functional. Bring some pals over to assist you in defrosting the pipes. Thawing the pipes at each friend's house may spawn a new party craze.
Call Order a Plumber Inc. for more information about defrosting frozen pipes. We are experts at defrosting and fixing frozen pipes. Call right away for further details.