Your Pipes and the Frozen Elements

Take a glance outside. If you live in north Texas, chances are, you are currently covered in ice. Temperatures this week went from 55 degrees to 20 degrees, and temperatures are expected to get to single digits later in the week.

The National Weather Service has issued a hard freeze warning for the north Texas area. This term is relatively new, as it heeds caution to potentially devastating freezes that can not only cause widespread damage but also completely destroy vegetation and other crops. Freezes such as the ones we’ve seen and the others expected can be monumental problems for your water pipes.

When water freezes, it expands, and when water expands in a pipe, it can cause the pipe to burst. A ruptured pipe will mean a dent in your bank account, as these plumbing troubles are not cheap to fix. Keep in mind that water pipes in Texas are used to warm temperatures, so they may be more susceptible to the frozen weather conditions. Our Lewisville TX plumbing company wants to offer basic tips to get you, your family and your pipes through these icy conditions.

First of all, make sure that you know where your main water shut-off valve is located. If one of your pipes freezes and/or bursts, it is imperative that you immediately shut off your water and call a plumber – preferably one of our Lewisville TX plumbers. Do not attempt to thaw out a pipe unless the water is off, as it can cause cracks in the piping.

Secondly, make sure your faucets have a slow but steady drip overnight. The flow of water will allow a pipe to release just enough to where pressure will not build between the ice and your faucets. You may see a very small increase in your water bill, but it’s better to see small increases in that bill – mere pennies, as a matter of fact – rather than a repair bill worth hundreds of dollars.

In addition, wrap all exposed pipes with some kind of insulation to protect them from freezing. Once your water valve is off, feel free to try and apply heat to frozen pipes with a hair dryer or space heater. Do not leave space heaters unattended, and do not turn the water valve back on until after thawing.

We at C&W Plumbing hope you can stay away from frozen pipes, and we hope these tips will assist you. For more information, call our Lewisville TX frozen pipe professionals today, or contact us online.