At Advocate Master Plumbing, we get many plumbing services requests regarding frozen water pipes or burst water pipes on the Lee’s Summit, MO area. It’s probably one of the most common plumbing issues. It can require water pipe replacement, sewer line repair, emergency water removal services, and emergency plumbers.
We’re proud to help our plumbing customers protect their homes from flooded basements and water leaks with highly trained expertise from your friendly neighborhood plumber. While we’re happy to help, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of care.
If you find yourself needing an emergency plumbing service, feel free to call your local plumbers @ 816-888-0599 for fast emergency water pipe repair and water leak repairs.
It’s getting to be that time of year to learn how to deal with frozen pipes. Some winter home weatherization tips could avoid the whole thing. So let’s discuss what causes frozen pipes. Then we can look at ways to winterize your home to avoid them. And lastly, let’s find out how to fix them.
What causes plumbing to freeze?
When the temperature dips below 32 degrees many of my customers here in the Lee’s Summit area will start calling with questions. Mainly about how to avoid hiring the doggone plumber. Can you blame them? I always tell them relax. It takes a lot of very cold temps, teens and lower, coupled with wind to cause a pipe to freeze. Things likes the following:
- Gaps in your house siding
- Electric, phone, cable, and gas service penetrations
- Furnace malfunctions
- Plumbing in a cold garage or inside external walls
- Tree roots and other sewage damage
How to avoid frozen plumbing and burst pipes
Next we can look at the aforementioned causes and address them before the plumbing emergencies have a chance to happen. Most need to be done prior to a hard freeze because they involve working outside with sealants and insulations that need a warm temperature to set properly.
Seal gaps in your home siding with expansion foam or silicone sealant. Replace siding as needed or add a few nails.
Where each utility service enters the home there should be proper insulation and all gaps between the wood and piping should be filled with sealant.
I always encourage my friends and neighbors to purchase a service agreement from a reputable heating and cooling contractor such as Heartland Quality Heating & Cooling. When they break, there’s a long line and wait to get it fixed.
Plumbing installed in exterior walls or unheated garages and crawl spaces are a symptom of hiring the cheapest plumbers and plumbing companies–not skilled technicians. Not all of my fellow craftsmen are qualified or trained. But they’ll be happy to take your money.
How to fix frozen pipes yourself
Lastly lets look at how to fix frozen pipes. If a water pipe freezes, you first have to identify the type of pipe.
If you have copper water pipes, you may have a burst pipe inside your walls that is being sealed with an ice plug. Fixing the problem may cause an even bigger one. Call a qualified master plumber who can respond quickly minimize damage, and fix your issue fast.
If you have cross linked polyethylene water pipes, PEX, then all you need do is thaw the pipe. You probably don’t have a burst since this pipe is a memory plastic and will tolerate freezing and return to its original shape when thawed.
PVC or CPVC plastic pipe thats frozen has definitely burst. Don’t even mess with it. Just give us a call.
If you believe your piping is frozen but not burst, then a few tricks can avoid a large plumbing bill.
Turn up the heat in your home as high as you can tolerate.
Open cabinets and drawers around the frozen plumbing. You may need to remove shower valve trim in your showers.
Leave the door open that leads to your garage from your home.
Get space heaters purring. Remember gas fired appliances used in interior living spaces emit lethal carbon monoxide!
Hair dryers and heat guns may be used if you know exactly where the pipe has frozen. Use caution. Too much heat could ignite dry building materials. No flames!
Sometimes, you can slowly run hot water through the frozen pipe. I recommend being VERY cautious with this, as a rapid temperature change can burst pipes, then that’s a whole other plumbing issue.
When to call an expert
Here’s when you need to call in for skilled professionals for plumbing services on a frozen pipe.
If the pipe has already burst, if you see crackling or bulging in the pipe, if the water pressure becomes extremely low throughout the house, if you see signs of water damage, if you can’t locate the frozen section of pipe, if the frozen pipe is in an inaccessible area, behind walls or ceiling, or if multiple pipes are frozen.
Or if you’re just straight up nervous about it and don’t want to deal with it yourself. Call up for emergency repairs.
Safety issues
Before addressing the frozen pipe yourself, consider if any of these notable safety issues are present. If so, call for emergency plumbers.
- If the frozen pipe is near electrical work.
- If there’s a nearby gas line.
- If you need to access dangerous areas to reach the pipes (or for any other reason).
- If there’s a risk of flooding.
- Or if the pipes or plumbing system is particularly complex.
What to do while you wait for emergency plumbing services for a frozen pipe
First off, keep calm–panicking won’t help anybody. Here are a few things you can do while you wait on your local plumber.
- Shut off your main water supply, if possible.
- Open faucets connected to frozen pipe, if you know where the freeze is.
- Keep the heat on in your house–in fact, crank it up.
- Document visible damage.
- Clear the area around frozen pipe so the plumber can access it–again, if you know where the freeze is.
Burst pipe repair Lees Summit
If you need a plumber in Lee’s Summit, please don’t hesitate to call. I’m happy to help my neighbors and friends. You’re not alone! We can help with all your plumbing needs and services in Lee’s Summit.
For exceptional service, expert plumbing advice, line repair, and a full range of plumbing services in Lee’s Summit, call now: 816-888-0599
At Advocate Master Plumbing we get many plumbing service requests regarding frozen pipes or burst water pipes. We’re proud to help our plumbing customers protect their homes from flooding basements and water leaks. If you find yourself needing a plumber feel free to call us @ 816-888-0599 for fast emergency water pipe repair and water leak repairs.
It’s getting to be that time of year to learn how to deal with frozen pipes. Some winter home weatherization tips could avoid the whole thing, though. So let’s discuss what causes frozen pipes. Then we can look at ways to winterize your home to avoid them. And lastly, lets find out how to fix them.
What causes frozen pipes
When the temperature dips below 32 degrees many of my customers here in the Lee’s Summit area will start calling with questions. Mainly about how to avoid hiring the doggone plumber. Can you blame them? I always tell them relax. It takes a lot of very cold temps, teens and lower, coupled with wind to cause a pipe to freeze. Things likes the following:
- Gaps in your house siding
- Electric, phone, cable and gas service penetrations
- Furnace malfunctions
- Plumbing in a cold garage or inside external walls
Avoiding frozen plumbing
Next we can look at the aforementioned causes and address them. Most need to be done prior to a hard freeze because they involve working outside with sealants and insulations that need a warm temperature to set properly.
- Seal gaps in your home siding with expansion foam or silicone sealant. Replace siding as needed or add a few nails.
- Where each utility service enters the home there should be proper insulation and all gaps between the wood and piping should be filled with sealant.
- I always encourage my friends and neighbors to purchase a service agreement from a reputable heating & cooling contractor such as Heartland Quality Heating & Cooling. When they break there’s a long line and wait to get it fixed.
- Plumbing installed in exterior walls or unheated garages and crawl spaces are a symptom of hiring the cheapest plumbers. Not all of my fellow craftsmen are qualified or trained. But they’ll take your money.
How to fix frozen pipes
Lastly lets look at how to fix frozen pipes. If a water pipe freezes you first have to identify the type of pipe. If you have copper water pipes you may have a burst pipe inside your walls that is being sealed with an ice plug. Thawing it could create major water damage in your home.
If you have cross linked polyethylene water pipes, PEX, then all you need do is thaw the pipe. You probably don’t have a burst since this pipe is a memory plastic and will tolerate freezing and return to its original shape when thawed.
Pvc or Cpvc plastic pipe thats frozen has definitely burst. Don’t even mess with it. Just give us a call.
If you believe your piping is frozen but not burst then a few tricks can avoid a large plumbing bill.
- Turn up the heat in your home as high as you can tolerate
- Open cabinets and drawers around the frozen plumbing. You may need to remove shower valve trim in your showers.
- Leave the door open that leads to your garage from your home.
- Get space heaters purring. Remember gas fired appliances used in interior living spaces emit lethal carbon monoxide!
- Hair dryers and heat guns may be used if you know exactly where the pipe has frozen. Use caution. Too much heat could ignite dry building materials. No flames!
- A quick fix could be to replace a burst section of pipe using a Sharkbite quick fitting.
When in doubt, just call the local plumber near you at Advocate Master Plumbing. You can talk to the same master plumber that will then arrive at your home.
