As the Upstate braces for a deep freeze, it is best to go ahead and prepare your pipes from the extreme cold.Experts say if it’s cold outside, and nothing comes on when you turn on the cold water on your faucet, it’s likely frozen or possibly broken.See how low temperatures are expected to go here.Roto-Rooter Plumbing and Draining Services says they get a lot of calls about frozen water lines, water line breaks, and even calls about frozen sewer lines this time of year.For the water lines, Tony Shelton, the manager at Roto-Rooter suggests having insulation on them if they’re exposed or some covers on your outside spigots. You can also open your cabinet doors inside to help bring the interior pipes to room temperature. If your pipes are frozen, Shelton warns you not to use a blow dryer or any other heating device to thaw them.”I would suggest not to do that. If it’s frozen, you just need to let it thaw out on its own,” he says, “because you could damage the pipes in the process of trying to heat them up or cause a different problem,” Shelton said. If a water line breaks or you have some kind of flood or emergency, you’ll want to call professionals immediately.
As the Upstate braces for a deep freeze, it is best to go ahead and prepare your pipes from the extreme cold.
Experts say if it’s cold outside, and nothing comes on when you turn on the cold water on your faucet, it’s likely frozen or possibly broken.
See how low temperatures are expected to go here.
Roto-Rooter Plumbing and Draining Services says they get a lot of calls about frozen water lines, water line breaks, and even calls about frozen sewer lines this time of year.
For the water lines, Tony Shelton, the manager at Roto-Rooter suggests having insulation on them if they’re exposed or some covers on your outside spigots. You can also open your cabinet doors inside to help bring the interior pipes to room temperature.
If your pipes are frozen, Shelton warns you not to use a blow dryer or any other heating device to thaw them.
“I would suggest not to do that. If it’s frozen, you just need to let it thaw out on its own,” he says, “because you could damage the pipes in the process of trying to heat them up or cause a different problem,” Shelton said.
If a water line breaks or you have some kind of flood or emergency, you’ll want to call professionals immediately.