Thawing Frozen Pipes Using 4 Straightforward Steps

6/20/2018 (Permalink)

Winter brings the joys of the holiday season, but there’s nothing merry about frozen pipes at your South Jordan, UT, business. Not only is it impossible to get usable water from the pipe, the breaking of a frozen pipe can lead to costly water damage. Treating frozen pipes properly with these four steps is necessary to minimize damage.

1. Check That It’s a Frozen Pipe.

Despite it being winter, water that won’t come out of a faucet doesn’t always mean there’s a frozen pipe. You could instead be dealing with broken pipes. Trace where the pipes go and make sure that there are no leaks that would need water cleanup.

2. Open the Faucet for Flow.

Once you have verified that the pipe is frozen, it’s time to begin thawing. Steam and water will be released while the pipe thaws, so you need a running faucet to clear this out. Leaving the faucet open moves water through the pipe to make unfreezing speedier when the water and ice try to match temperatures.

3. Heat the Pipe Using a Safe Source.

Using a dangerous heat source or a safe one improperly can lead to problems like fire damage to your business. It’s important to first ensure the area around the frozen pipe is clear of anything flammable.

After establishing a perimeter, you can use a hair dryer or a portable space heater. Alternatively, you can wrap the pipe in an electric heating pad or towel soaked in hot water. It is strongly advised to never use anything with an open, exposed flame.

Keep the heat on the pipe until water flows at full power once more. If flow cannot be restored, seek out a local plumber.

4. Check Your Property for Damage.

There may still be other frozen pipes, so repeat the first three steps until all of them are treated. During your inspection, you may discover water damage from the weather or an improperly thawed pipe. A trained water damage recovery company can remove this water from your commercial property. It’s peace of mind to know that frozen pipes can be fixed yourself with these steps or professionally treated if they become more problematic.

For more information, please visit us at http://www.SERVPROsouthjordannorthdraper.com/.