Scarborough Plumbing Service Warning Residents About Pipes Freezing And Bursting

Local Drain Experts, a plumbing and drain cleaning service company based in Scarborough, Ontario, has issued a warning to homeowners and property owners about the risk of pipes freezing and bursting in both residential and commercial buildings when the temperatures start to drop to below freezing. They want people to be aware that the extreme cold can cause pipes to freeze causing pressure to build up resulting in cracks in the pipes, whether they are plastic, steel, or copper. The issue is that even a tiny crack can result into more than 200 gallons of water lost in just one day.

The warning was issued in view of the company’s plumbers encountering many cases of customers with frozen or bursting pipes. However, they want to point out that the worst problems begin to appear when the temperatures get warmer. “It’s not the frozen pipes that really get plumbers’ phones ringing. It’s the thawing pipes that leak and spew water after a hard freeze,” explains Nat Pos, owner of Local Drain Experts.

Natalia adds, “People are often amazed at the volumes of water wasted through household leaks. Something that seems insignificant and often unattended by homeowners actually has a very noticeable impact on the water usage and water bill.”

The flooding that can occur when the water in cracked pipes start to thaw can also result in substantial damage to the home or building. Thus, they have also offered some tips on how homeowners and property owners can avoid such problems. By following a few simple preventive measures before the pipes freeze, people can minimize the risk of suffering from a plumbing catastrophe.

The first thing that homeowners and property owners need to do is to disconnect outside water hoses. This is because water hoses that are left connected to an outside faucet will freeze and the outside faucets and the pipes to which these are connected can also freeze and break. In addition, people need to cover the outside faucets with a faucet insulation kit that can be obtained from a home center.

And for those who find that their outside faucets are dripping or leaking, it is advisable to call a plumber and have them repaired before the freezing temperatures arrive. Likewise, for those who have a washing machine in an unheated garage, they should turn off the water supply lines connected to it and disconnect the hoses.

People can allow a trickle of hot and cold water to drip overnight in bathtubs and sinks connected to pipes that run along the outside walls. However, it is important to be careful that the water should not run into a drain if the drain lines go through an under-insulated outside wall because the pipes could freeze and result into backups.

It is also advisable to open the cabinets under sinks to cause the heat of the room to circulate around uninsulated pipes. People can add insulation to water pipes that are located in unheated areas, such as crawl spaces or garages. This can be done by applying heat tape or thermostat-controlled heat cables around water supply pipes that are exposed to freezing temperatures. However, people should be careful not to attach such devices to flammable materials.

For those who find that their pipes have already frozen, the plumbing company also offers some tips. The first thing to do is to shut off the main pipe leading into the structure, thus reducing the pressure and minimizing flooding if the pipes burst. If the frozen pipe is exposed and accessible, people can use a hair dryer or space heater to thaw the ice blockages. However, it is vital not to use an open flame for safety reasons.

Homeowners and property owners should also examine exposed pipes for leaks because even if the water main has been shut off, there will be sufficient pressure to show leaks once the pipe has thawed. They may want to call on professional plumbers who have the necessary pipe thawing equipment and make repairs to any damaged pipes.