subject: A Quick Guide To Frozen And Burst Pipes [print this page] Burst pipes are one of the most common plumbing emergencies in the home. Thousands of households across America face this problem each winter and it can be very costly if you do not fix the pipes immediately. Northern Virginia plumbers are often called out to deal with burst pipes across the state during winter months, so here is a quick guide to make you more aware of how to prevent them occurring in the first place.
Why do Burst Pipes Occur?
Burst pipes occur in cold weather, and for that reason Northern Virginia plumbers are called out more often in the winter months. The problem occurs when the water inside the pipes freezes and expands and they burst as a result. When the ice thaws they begin to leak and this can lead to severe problems and cause significant damage to walls, floors and furniture. For this reason it is crucial that you get them fixed immediately or, even better, prevent your pipes from bursting in the first place
How Can Burst Pipes Be Prevented?
There are many ways to help prevent your pipes from bursting and reduce the likelihood that you will have to call out Northern Virginia plumbers to fix them. These include: keeping the central heating on a low setting throughout the coldest nights; if you go away on holiday, set the heating to come on for a few hours each day; keep using the cold taps regularly [moving water is a lot harder to freeze]; and, if you go away for a long period, get the system drained by a plumber. Insulated pipes are a good help but they are not usually enough on their own to prevent freezing
What Should You Do if Your Pipes Freeze?
As soon as your pipes freeze, turn off the stop-cock. After doing this, call out a plumber to come in and check your pipes. Once the weather warms up and the pipes thaw, the leaks will start, so it is best to find out if there are any burst pipes before this happens.
Be very careful when trying to thaw pipes yourself. Pipes can burst when you are trying to thaw them, especially copper, so only use very gentle techniques such as resting a hot water bottle against the pipe. However, if in doubt, call a plumber.
How Should You Fix a Burst Pipe?
If you are unlucky enough to get a burst pipe, make sure that you call out a plumber as soon as possible. Although you dont have to call one out in the middle of the night, you should still make it an urgent priority. Although it may be possible to fix a burst pipe if you really know what you are doing, this is not a standard DIY job and it is best to leave it to the professionals.
Hopefully you will now have more awareness about burst pipes and you may be able to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Just remember that if you do need to call out Northern Virginia plumbersto deal with a burst pipe, search for one with experience in this area and with the right qualifications for the job.
