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Frozen Pipes
If you have frozen pipes, you are going to have to take some precautions before thawing them out. The first thing to do is to turn off the water supply and then call a plumber. He can come to your home, assess the situation, and determine the extent of the damage. Two things the plumber will do will be to determine the cause of the frozen pipes and then to devise a plan to thaw the pipes. It is important that frozen pipes are thawed slowly and carefully to prevent bursting of the pipes. If you already have a broken pipe, you are going to need repairs that a prepared plumber can do right away.
As the plumber thaws or repairs your frozen pipes, he may also express his concern for the lack of heat in the area that caused the problem in the first place. He may recommend foam pipe wraps or heating strips if the area is subject to severe cold. Reputable plumbers want to help you not only replace or repair the pipes, but also protect them from future damage. If you have any other concerns relating to weather and your pipes, you will want to ask the plumber about these concerns so that you do not have future problems. He can inspect all of your pipes and other areas of your house for potential problems.
Frozen pipes require a slow thawing process and you will need to open a few faucets in order to allow the melting water to escape. It is very important not to heat the pipe until it is hot. If you have PVC piping, you need to thaw these differently then you would a copper or lead pipe. In all, it will be easier to call the experienced plumber who is trained in this type of work to do the job.
In order to prevent pipes from freezing during the cold winter months, you should shut-off the water specifically to the pipes that supply water to the outside faucets. The faucets and pipes that are closest to the outside elements have the best chance of freezing. Also, if you allow a slow drip from some of your inside faucets, it will help keep water flowing through the pipes making it harder to freeze during the extremely cold weather.
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