Maybe you wake up to a rumbling sound in the basement, or you’ve come home after work to find a flood on your hands. Either way, a burst pipe is a disaster, and the longer you wait to get help, the worse the damage becomes. When time is of the essence, call on AM PM Plumbing for service Murrieta and let us handle your frozen and burst pipe problems.
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What Causes Pipes to Burst?
Pipes burst for a variety of reasons, but the most common are freezing, corrosion, and water pressure. Let’s look at each one to find out how these problems arise.
- Freezing: When the temperature drops below freezing, water in the pipes can freeze. Frozen water expands, which puts pressure on the pipe, causing it to burst.
- Corrosion: Older pipes, such as the ones made from galvanized steel, corrode as they age, which causes them to break. In these cases, home repiping is the best way to solve the problem.
- Water Pressure: Clogs in your plumbing system cause pressure to build up, which can lead to pipes bursting. To guard against this problem, be mindful of what goes down your drains and consider professional drain cleaning at least once a year.
When your pipes freeze, call the experts at AM PM Plumbing and let us protect your home.
How to Prevent Hose Bib From Freezing
Before winter hits, it’s wise to prepare pipes and outdoor faucets to guard against freezing. Even if you live in a warmer climate, the occasional freeze could spell disaster if a pipe bursts. Outdoor faucets are especially vulnerable to freezing because of their direct exposure to the elements. To protect your outdoor faucets and prevent water damage, here are a few tips to consider.
- If you live in a climate that experiences below-freezing temperatures regularly, check to see if you have an internal shutoff valve in your home so you can drain the water from the system.
- Cover the outside faucet with an insulated cover and consider wrapping the outdoor pipes with insulation from your local hardware store.
- Remove and drain the hoses attached to the outdoor faucets before you cover them.
To be sure your pipes are protected against Old Man Winter, call us for help.
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Don’t Panic When Pipes Freeze
When pipes freeze, it’s easy to panic and think the worst is going to happen, but that’s not always the case. If you’re not getting water from the faucet, try to determine which pipes are frozen. Once you find the problem, you can speed up the thawing process by directing warm air onto the pipes. You can do this by opening up cabinet doors or by using a small space heater for help. Lastly, call a plumber to restore water flow and to inspect pipes to guard against bursts.
