How to Take the Chill Out!
What should you do if a water pipe freezes? You should make sure it never happens again! When the water freezes, it tries to expand inside the pipe. It pushes against the sides of the pipe, as well as any nearby valves, seams and faucets. The freezing action of the water is more than capable of rupturing any pipe. Unfortunately, a water pipe may freeze even if you have taken precautions. Perhaps you lost electrical power for several hours, the temperature inside your house fell and the pipes froze. Or maybe you left on vacation, turned down the heat and weren't expecting an early blizzard. Or perhaps your heat tape quit working, and you didn't find out until you discovered none of the faucets worked. Whatever the cause, it's important that you thaw out your pipe for two reasons: 1. You almost certainly need the water. 2. You should be at home when the pipe thaws, just in case the pipe and/or joint is ruptured. Bear in mind that a frozen pipe doesn't leak - the wat...