What to do when the temperatures stay below freezing:
- The first thing to do is when the temperature drops below freezing is to keep your water running. By allowing a small trickle of water to run, water will keep moving through your pipes lowering your chances of your pipes freezing over. Remember that the cost of the extra water you use is usually much cheaper that the cost of repairing a broken pipe.
- Another thing that you can do to help your pipes is to open the cabinet doors of your home to let the warm air in your home reach the pipes. This will also help your pipe keep warm enough to help stop them from freezing over.
What to do if your pipes freeze over:
- The first thing you should do in the event of frozen pipes is to shut the water off immediately. You should not attempt to thaw your pipes out without turning off the main shut off valve to your home.
- The next step that you should take is thaw the frozen pipes with warm air. The idea is to melt the frozen water in the pipes by warming the air around it. Be sure not to leaving any space heaters you use unattended and also do not use kerosene heater or open flames. If you do not feel comfortable doing this part on your own, JJ Kokesh and Son has a special machine that we use to thaw pipes.
- Finally, it is important to be careful turning the water back on. Once you get the pipes thawed out, slowly turn the water back on and check pipes and joints for any cracks or leaks that might have been caused by the frozen pipes. If you do find the pipes have been damaged, please give us a call at 636-391-1233 so that our dedicated team of plumber can help you get your pipes back in working order.
