In Frozen Pipes

Bristol, Johnson City, and Kingsport TN

It’s a blustery winter day, and you go to turn on the faucet and nothing happens. This is a telltale sign that you may have a frozen pipe. If this happens to you, follow these steps to prevent a busted pipe in your Kingsport home.

What to do about a frozen pipe

A frozen pipe won’t actually burst until it begins to thaw. Be sure to leave the faucet on, because should the pipe begin to thaw the water will need somewhere to go.

Try to locate the frozen pipe, if you are able. You can check other faucets in your home, and if the others work, then you may be able to pinpoint which one is actually frozen. If you aren’t sure, you may need to go ahead and call a plumber to locate and unfreeze the pipe for you.

Do not attempt to thaw the pipe using a blowtorch because that could pose as a fire hazard. And, as much of a headache as a flooded home can be, dealing with a burnt down house is much worse! Instead, you may be able to unfreeze the pipe using a hairdryer, although there are certain steps you should take before doing this trick. Just be sure not to get the heating element too close to the pipe itself.

What to do if a pipe busted

If you already have a busted pipe and water is emerging everywhere, immediately go to shut off the main water valve. This can be found above your water heater. Also, there is a main shut off valve by the street as well. Always make sure you, and anyone else who lives in your house with you knows where these two shutoff valves are located for an emergency such as this.

Next, call a water restoration company in the Johnson City area such as Spotless Carpet Cleaners. We offer services 24/7 and can be on our way in no time to start getting rid of the water that has accumulated in your home. You will want to get going on this as quickly as possible because mold and mildew can begin to form within 24 hours of the water damage occurring.

Our professionals will be with you each step of the way throughout our cleanup process. Experiencing a flood in your home can send you in a frenzy, but we take the stress out of the situation for you by handling everything. You should contact your homeowner’s insurance company to find out what type of coverage you have for water damage.

Prevent your pipes from freezing

In a perfect world every homeowner would protect their pipes appropriately against winter freezes, but sometimes you can take every precaution necessary and still end up with a frozen or busted pipe.

We advise that you follow these tips to prevent your pipes from freezing this winter:

  • Leave water dripping from faucets when temperatures drop below freezing
  • Insulate exposed pipes
  • Leave cabinet doors under each sink open
  • Keep the thermostat set to a reasonable temperature even when you are not at home

If you get a flood in your home from a busted pipe this winter, contact the professionals at Spotless Carpet Cleaners by calling (423) 926-9251. We offer 24/7 emergency services to residential and commercial clients in the areas of Bristol, Johnson City, and Kingsport.