While this is the season for giving and receiving, frozen pipes are one gift you don’t want. If you’re a homeowner living in a cold climate, you’re likely aware of this threat, but pipes can freeze in any region. Given the financial risks involved, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Here are the signs that your pipes may be frozen—and what to do if they are.

How to determine if your pipes are frozen

The most obvious sign that you have frozen pipes is the absence of water (assuming you’re not delinquent on your water bill).

“Frozen water pipes won’t deliver water to the sink, tub, or toilet—and blocked heating pipes will prevent hot air from reaching radiators that are past the part that’s frozen,” says Mary Redler, vice president of Polo Plumbing & Heating in Lindenhurst, NY.

Ways to defrost your pipes

If you have undamaged frozen pipes, Redler says you may be able to defrost them yourself. But the first thing you should do is turn off the water at the main shut-off valve.

“This is important because as the pipe defrosts, you may discover that it did split, but wasn’t leaking because it was frozen,” she explains.

Some people recommend using a blow dryer to defrost frozen pipes. Redler says using a space heater will also do the trick.

“Place the unit close by so it sends heat as directly as possible to the frozen area,” she says.

The more heat you can deliver, the faster the pipe will thaw—but Redler warns it may take a full 24 hours using this method.

“Hopefully the heat will prevent it from freezing even more and splitting the pipe, since water expands when it’s frozen,” she explains.

In lieu of a space heater, there are other ways to thaw your frozen pipes. According to Don Glovan, franchise consultant with Mr. Rooter Plumbing, you can also use a heat lamp.

He recommends that you start applying heat at the area of the pipe closest to the faucet, and then move the heat application down the pipe.

“Another option is to use electrical heating tape, although some models will need to be plugged in,” Glovan says.

Avoid using these sources of heat to defrost pipes: a blowtorch, propane heater, kerosene, charcoal stove, or any other type of flammable device.

You also need to open a faucet that receives water from the frozen pipe to release pressure in the pipe when it thaws out.

Should you call a plumber?

If your DIY plumbing efforts don’t work—or if your pipes have frozen and burst—bring in the plumbers. And if there’s a lot of water in your home that needs to be dried out, call a water remediation company, which has the equipment and the training to remove it.

“If something isn’t dried correctly, such as inside a wall cavity, under a cabinet, carpet padding, or subflooring, etc., you could develop problems with microbial (mold) growth later,” says Bud Summers, executive vice president of operations and training at PuroClean.

Tips to prevent frozen pipes

Insulating your pipes is one of the best ways to prevent the pipes from freezing in the first place. Ben Nuno, plumbing specialist at Lee’s Air Conditioning, Heating, and Building Performance in Fresno, CA, recommends insulating all exterior pipes or installing a pipe-heating cable.

Another suggestion is to let your faucets drip water since it is less likely to freeze when there’s movement in the pipes, and opening the faucets ensures there’s no buildup of water pressure.

Also, keep the area around your pipes as warm as possible.

“Open your under-sink cabinet doors to keep warm room air circulating the pipes,” Glovan says.

He also recommends sealing external openings such as basement doors, windows, and crawl spaces with weatherstripping, caulk, and sealant.

In addition, you may want to budget for a higher utility bill during the winter months.

“Very cold days are not the time to try to save money on fuel,” Redler says. “You should increase the temperature by a few degrees to make sure your pipes are protected.”

Original post courtesy of realtor.com.

Rich Dallas/Sharon Fincham

(c) 412-365-4622

(o) 724-941-3340

The Dallas-Fincham Team and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Rich@DallasFinchamTeam.com

Looking to buy a home or sell a home in the Greater Pittsburgh area?

*We are your trusted Real Estate Agents!*