Although Florida is known for its warm temperatures and subtropical climate, pipe freezing is not an anomaly here. The cool, dry winter season often brings with it cold fronts, leaving your plumbing system susceptible to potential damages. While this may be cause for concern, the truth is that frozen pipes are preventable. Below, our Williston plumbers at PureGreen Plumbing LLC have outlined proactive steps homeowners can take to reduce the possibility of a frozen plumbing system. Open 24-hours a day, Monday through Friday, our experienced local plumbers can assist homeowners with identifying vulnerable pipes, improving plumbing insulation, and repairing leaks. Schedule North Florida plumbing services today!
Locate Emergency Shut Off Valves
All it takes is a single ruptured pipe to release hundreds of gallons of water into your home. In order to avoid flooding and extensive property damage, the first step homeowners should take after a pipe burst is to shut off the main water supply valve. This prevents additional water from escaping into your walls, floors, and ceilings.
However, ensuring that you reach these emergency shut-off valves in time requires knowing where they are in advance. The location of these valves varies from household to household. Check near your water meter, water heater, or underneath the kitchen sink.
Insulate Pipes
As the temperature outside reaches below freezing, water within the pipes will freeze and expand. This expansion exerts great pressure against your pipes. Eventually, the pipes will no longer be able to contain the frozen water, leading to cracking, leaking, bursting, and breaking that can be expensive to remedy.
Pipes that are exposed to the outdoors or unheated areas, such as water hoses, swimming pool lines, water sprinkler lines, or attic supply pipes, are the most vulnerable to freezing temperatures. If possible, completely drain water from these pipes and install insulation products. For example, a pipe sleeve is an inexpensive tool that can be found at most hardware stores. These sleeves provide a protective layer against the elements, shielding the water pipe from the cold and preventing heat from escaping. Carefully wrap each pipe with the pipe sleeves, making sure to cover outdoor spouts and faucets.
Set Your Thermostat
In the event of a local freeze warning, turn on your heat and keep your thermostat set to no lower than 55°F. Maintaining a consistent indoor temperature every day may increase your utility bill, but this is a small price to pay compared to the hassle of emergency plumbing repairs.
Contact Our Williston Plumbing Company
If you turn on your faucet, only to be met by a trickle of water, your pipes may be frozen. If you suspect your plumbing system is frozen, contact PureGreen Plumbing LLC as soon as possible.
Even if you already conducted a visual inspection and discovered no new cracks or leaks, the pipe may be cracked internally. Once the water within the pipes thaws, these tiny cracks can become catastrophic, with little to no prior warning. At our plumbing repair company, our licensed and insured plumbers possess specialized technology such as drain cameras that are designed to catch hidden issues in your plumbing system, saving you both time and money. Once our plumbers have pinpointed the exact location of the leak, we can provide prompt and reliable repair services. Contact us today to schedule an appointment or to request a free quote!
