Do All Frozen Pipes Burst?

In fact, burst pipes and the leaks that develop from might go undetected for some time. That’s why it’s good to have your pipes inspected regularly to make sure no damage is present. Once winter does come, however, and you do need burst and frozen pipe repair in Santa Clarita, CA, you can always rely on the professionals at On Call Plumbing. We can be reached for any plumbing services by calling 661-201-6016.

How do you know if your pipes froze?

In winter, if you’re wondering whether your pipes have frozen, the first thing to note is that it has to be freezing outside for the pipes to freeze. That means outside temperatures have to be 32 degrees or below before pipes can freeze. Of course, even if it’s below freezing, your pipes might not freeze. Some ways to tell if pipes have frozen include:

• Frost appears on the outside of the pipe.
• Nothing comes out of the faucets. If you can’t get water to come out of your faucet, your pipes are probably frozen.
• Strange smells coming from the faucets or drains. When your pipes are blocked with ice, odors can’t escape down them, and so travel back up the pipes.

If you think your pipes are frozen, you’ll need to act fast to get them thawed. You don’t want to let them thaw on their own. This is most often when they’ll burst, and you’ll need frozen pipe repair. 

Will frozen pipes thaw on their own?

Yes, frozen pipes thaw on their own as temperatures get above freezing. This is actually more often the time when the pipes burst, as the melting water in the pipe begins to rush through the pipe. If you’ve discovered your pipes are frozen, you want them to thaw, but you want them to thaw slowly. To get them to thaw slowly and try to prevent them from bursting, you can try several methods like the following:

• Wrap a towel around the pipe, from top to bottom, and pour hot water over the towel. This will slowly warm the pipes. 
• Shut off the main water valve to keep any more water from coming down the pipe.
• As a preventative measure, before winter comes, insulate the pipes with pipe sleeves.
• If you know a freeze is in the forecast, leave a trickle of water running through the pipes before the freeze hits.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinets to keep the pipes under sinks warm.

If the pipes do burst, you will need to get a frozen pipe repair as soon as possible.

At what temperature do pipes burst?

Pipes can burst anytime they freeze. A freeze, of course, means any temperature 32 degrees or below. Ice that forms inside the pipes can cause it to expand and burst or as the ice thaws, and the water warms and begins to flow again, the pipe can burst.

Will pouring hot water down drain unfreeze pipes?

You can actually pour warm water down a frozen pipe to get it unfrozen. This can only be done a short time after the pipes have frozen. After several hours, you risk bursting the pipe. You’ll want to heat the water on the stove to bring it almost to boiling, then slowly pour the water down the drain. Frozen pipe repair will be necessary if the pipe bursts.

Freezing pipe to repair it

While having your pipes freeze is never a good thing, some plumbers actually freeze pipes intentionally to repair them. This repair technique requires a special kit that uses refrigerants like CO2 to freeze pipes. This type of repair is usually performed when there is a lack of shutoff valves to make a normal repair. It’s a repair technique that is best left for professionals.

Is frozen pipe covered by insurance

When it comes to frozen pipe burst repair and insurance you may or may not have coverage from your insurance. The water damage from a burst pipe is normally covered, especially if the pipe burst suddenly. These repairs typically include any repairs to walls caused by the water repairs to carpeting or drywall, and water removal efforts, especially to prevent mold growth. The frozen pipe repair itself or other plumbing damage might not be covered. Certain stipulations, however, might apply. The water damage might not be covered, for instance, if the pipe burst is a result of negligence, such as poor maintenance or preventative measures hadn’t been taken to keep the pipe from bursting. Individual policies will vary, so check with your insurer before filing a claim.