What should I do with frozen pipes?

Frozen pipes are the common dilemma of people living in areas with temperatures reaching zero degrees. Since water expands upon reaching a freezing temperature, you expect that water caught in a pipe outside during winter can cause damage to your plumbing system. Unlike frozen foods in the refrigerator, thawing frozen pipes require utmost skill from Cincinnati plumbers. In restoring the pipes, you need to be careful to salvage it. Otherwise, that will mean changing your pipes every after winter and that means huge expenses on your part.

You can deal with frozen pipes in several ways. One recommendation of Cincinnati plumbers is through opening the faucets to allow the water to come out. By keeping water flowing, it will start to melt ice in the pipes. You can hasten the process by using hair dryers or other heating equipments. However, take extra care not to heat the pipes too hot as it may boil the water and cause more problems. Another recommendation is to pour lukewarm water on the iced area. Whichever you choose, make sure not to move from one location to another until all ice has completely melted. If you cannot locate the area where freezing has occurred, you can ask the assistance of Cincinnati plumbers. They are experts in finding the exact frozen area and they can deal even with the hard-to-reach places.

Since frozen pipes can cause you money, preventing its occurrence is always better. Before winter season starts, shut off the main water supply valve. Keep all your garden hoses drained and store them during the whole season. If you have plumbing system outside, keep the garage door closed to avoid chilled air from entering. In the kitchen and bathroom, open the cabinet doors to allow warm air to get into the pipes. By simply following the prevention tips of Cincinnati plumbers, you do not have to change your pipes when winter is over.