As winter approaches, residents in Elizabeth should be mindful of the dangers and consequences of frozen or broken water lines. According to the website CostHelper, the average cost to fix a busted water pipe, including any further water damage repairs, is $900.

Our Elizabeth Plumbing and Drain service team want to provide you with all the knowledge you need to understand this widespread problem, take the essential safeguards against frozen pipes, and know what to do if a pipe bursts.

How Do Pipes Freeze and What Happens?

Because water expands as it freezes, frozen water pipes may shatter as a result of the increased pressure. Uninsulated water pipes in your New Jersey home that are located along exterior walls, attics, basements, crawl spaces, and kitchen cabinets are the most susceptible.

Outside water lines, such as those connecting outside hoses, sprinkler systems, irrigation systems, or swimming pools, are also at risk if not drained before the arrival of winter.

The older your water pipes, the more likely it is that frozen water may cause major problems and damage. Furthermore, since many modern homes have complicated plumbing systems, a damaged pipe may cause catastrophic damage.

In less than an hour, a single burst pipe may leak four to eight gallons of water each minute, causing thousands of dollars in damage. This might render your home or office inoperable for many weeks.

Prevention Tips

Taking a few simple steps before winter makes it much less likely that your water pipes will freeze or break. Consider the following actions very seriously:

• Drain the water from your sprinkler pipes and pool according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Disconnect and drain any exterior hoses. Turn off the water supply to these hoses and leave the valve open to drain any residual water. Consider installing an insulator to spigots.

• Wrap exposed water lines in insulation to keep them from freezing.

Insulation should be installed around your hot water tank.

• Locate and utilize your home’s main cutoff.

• If water lines are placed in your garage, keep the door shut.

On really cold days, leave your Cabinets in the kitchen, and the bathroom may be opened, allowing warm air to flow around the pipes

• Run a mild stream of room-temperature water through the faucets, particularly at night when it’s cooler.

• Maintain your home’s temperature above 55 degrees.

• If you will be gone for an extended period, empty the water system by shutting off the water and running all the fixtures until no more water comes out.

Warning Signs

Despite precautions, frozen pipes may still occur. As a homeowner, keep an eye out for these simple indicators of a frozen water pipe.

If your water flow is dramatically reduced or halted at a certain fixture, you might have frozen water in other areas of your system. A frozen pipe may sometimes start to leak before it explodes. Keep an eye out for moist spots on your ceiling or walls.

Keep the faucet open if you suspect a frozen pipe. When the frozen portion melts, water will flow again, assisting in the melting of the ice inside the pipe. To help the pipes thaw, wrap them with hot water-soaked cloths.

To warm a place with a possibly frozen pipe, use a space heater, hair dryer, or heated pad. However, while working near water sources, you must exercise extreme caution when using electrical equipment and protect against fire. A skilled plumber should handle frozen pipes near electrical outlets.

After a Pipe Bursts

If a water pipe breaks, you should act quickly to limit the damage. The water supply to your house should be cut off first. You should be aware of the placement of this valve before an emergency occurs.

Move your belongings away from the water flow and turn off any nearby electric appliances. If feasible, use buckets to trap and gather as much water as possible. While you wait for the drains to function, use the faucets in your kitchen and bathroom to drain any residual water in your plumbing system.

Once the immediate problem has been resolved, contact a professional to fix your pipes. Before contacting your insurance company, please list your damages and take photographs of them.

Call Us for All Your Plumbing Needs

If you have frozen pipes or other plumbing concerns, please get in touch with Elizabeth Plumbing and Drain Service in Elizabeth, NJ. Call (908) 988-0365 or submit an online service request.