Brrrrr! The temperature could dip below zero degrees Fahrenheit here in Lehigh Valley for several consecutive days this weekend.
Frozen pipes can burst, costing sizeable damage. If your pipes do freeze, turn off your main water line and call a plumber like S. Agentis and Mr. Rooter Plumbing, serving Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, as soon as possible to avoid further damage.
How do you know your pipes are frozen? There will be zero water flow or just a trickle from a faucet, and if this occurs, be sure to leave the faucet open, in preparation for your commercial plumber.
In the meantime, here are some tips from S.Agentis and Mr. Rooter Plumbing of the Lehigh Valley to help protect your pipes from freezing in the first place.
· Wrap galvanized, copper and/or PVC pipes, or any outside wall facing, exposed, garage, or basement pipes with pipe sleeves, heat tape, or other specific pipe insulators. Newspaper layered to even ¼ inch can be even be used as an efficient insulator, or to stop any draft.
· Keep garage doors closed if water supply lines are located in or above the garage.
· Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.
· Allow the hot and cold water to slowly flow from the faucet served by exposed or outside wallpipes. Running water through the pipe – even at a trickle to a small stream in both the hot and cold water faucets – helps prevent pipes from freezing.
· Did you know hot water pipes freeze before cold water pipes?
· Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.
· Going away for a winter excursion, business trip or family getaway for a few days? The heat in your home should be set no lower than 55° F.
· If your pipes do freeze, open the faucet that it serves before it thaws or before applying any heat to relieve pressure. If you have copper pipes with brass fittings for valves, never apply torch heat to the frozen pipes as they can explode.
For more information, follow S.Agentis / Mr. Rooter Plumbing and/or S. Agentis Kitchen and Bath Innovations on Facebook, Pinterest, Houzz.com or visit our website at www.agentisplumbing.com or www.sagentis.com.
Media Contact Tina Bradford
