It’s winter time in Utah, and for homeowners, that means it’s important to be diligent about a few basic plumbing areas. One of these is the potential for frozen pipes, which can interrupt basic water flow and lead to several more significant issues.
At Expert Services- Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, we’re here to help handle and prevent frozen pipes. Here are some telltale signs that you might have pipe freezing issues you need to address.
Outdoor Temperatures
The first sign here is the simplest one there is: it has to be cold enough outside for frost to begin building up. As soon as the outdoor temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, you could be at risk. Be especially diligent at night, when temperatures are generally lowest. If you have regular pipe freezing issues, check the forecast in advance to see if there are days you should be on high alert.
Missing Water
If you start to notice that certain faucets don’t supply water when you turn them on, this could be a telltale sign that you’re dealing with frozen pipes. Check each faucet fixture individually after this point, to figure out which others are dealing with this issue and might be at risk of bursting.
Odor
If there’s frozen water within the pipe below a particular sink, that frozen blockage will stop not only water but air as well – and this air has nowhere to go but up. It will flow back out your drain and into your bathroom. If you notice a consistently foul odor from a sink, potentially accompanied by missing water issues as well, it’s likely you have a frozen pipe.
Frost Buildup
Finally, there are certain pipe freezing signs you can pick up visually. Certain pipes in your home are exposed, such as in the kitchen, bathroom, basement and potentially other areas. You can visually inspect these pipes – if you see even a small bit of frost, this likely means there’s more elsewhere. If this happens regularly in exposed areas, consider insulating your pipes.
For more on spotting frozen pipes, or to learn about any of our plumbing repair services, speak to the pros at Expert Services- Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.