4 Tell-Tale Signs Your Pipes are Frozen

When winter comes and transforms your neighbourhood into a winter wonderland, all the festivities can distract you from the impending doom that will likely fall on your home’s most vulnerable parts. Your pipes, for instance, are at high risk of freezing due to the cold weather.

Even if the cold doesn’t bother you, letting your pipes freeze can lead to costly consequences — one that involves burst pipes, flooding problems, and deeper holes in your pocket due to all the repairs you have to make.

Frozen pipes are a formidable problem with their destructive power, so here are some red flags that should help you identify freezing pipes before they wreak havoc on your home.

Tell-Tale Signs of Frozen Pipes

1) When you turn on the faucets and notice a significant reduction in the water pressure, then the likely culprit could be your frozen pipes. You can isolate and diagnose the problem without confusing it with other plumbing issues if all the faucets in your home produce little-to-no water since it means a part of your pipes have icy blockages inside.

2) When you see an icy residue covering your exposed pipes, it’s one of the easiest symptoms of frozen pipes. The condensation that coats the pipes means it’s completely frozen inside and out, leaving it vulnerable to bursting anytime soon.

3) When you get a whiff of unpleasant odours near your drains, it could mean the sewer line is frozen. Breathing in sewage smells is never a welcomed experience, and while it doesn’t mean your pipes are in trouble, it doesn’t get you out of the woods yet.

​Odours permeating throughout your home due to frozen sewage lines deserve emergency plumbing attention. If no one is taking the first step to call a professional, you should be the one to put them on speed dial since a frozen sewer line can bring more trouble to your neighbourhood.

4) When you see minor cracks along your exposed pipes, it means the water inside has completely frozen. This heightens the pressure and increases the risk of the pipes expanding, leading to cracks and weakened pipes. Be sure to turn off the water supply first as you wait for plumbing professionals since letting it thaw can cause the cracked pipes to burst open.

The Big Freeze: Spotting Early Signs of Frozen Pipes and Exploring Ways to Unfreeze Them

When it comes to caring for your pipes, time is of the essence when winter comes. Pipes can quickly harden and freeze in as little as six to eight hours, so overlooking the tell-tale signs can result in you waking up with a risky plumbing system. With that in mind, the list above should help you address the problem earlier by knowing what to look out for during the colder months.

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Our team of experts provides various emergency services, such as sump pump installation, water softener and filter installation, drain cleaning, heating and air conditioning, septic tank repairs, and more.
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