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Prevent Frozen Pipes and Protect Your Home

Winter in Tennessee can pose challenges to your plumbing system, but you can prevent frozen pipes with proper measures. When water freezes within your pipes, it expands and generates pressure, which may result in bursts, expensive repairs, and severe water damage. At CrewPros Home Services and Remodeling, we aim to assist Memphis homeowners in avoiding frozen pipes, but can also provide emergency service if one bursts. Here’s how to spot frozen pipes, protect your plumbing, and what steps to take if the worst occurs. When pipes burst, call CrewPros emergency water restoration services.

The Best Way to Stop Pipes from Freezing

  1. Bundle Up Your Pipes: Use foam insulation or heat tape to protect pipes exposed to the elements. This method is also effective for pipes located in unheated spaces such as attics and basements.
  2. Seal: Seal cracks or gaps near windows, doors, and where pipes enter to block cold drafts.
  3. Keep it Toasty: Always set your thermostat to a minimum of 55 degrees Fahrenheit, even if you’re away from home.
  4. Crack the Cabinets: Open the sink cabinet doors to allow warm air circulation around your pipes, reducing the risk of freezing.
  5. Drip the Faucets: Allow faucets linked to unheated areas or outside walls to drip slowly, which helps minimize the risk of freezing.

Dripping Water To Prevent Frozen Pipes

Have you ever questioned why people recommend letting your faucets drip when temperatures fall below freezing? It’s more than just an old wives’ tale! Allowing water to drip relieves pressure in your pipes and keeps water moving, which makes freezing less likely. You may have another question: Should the water be hot or cold? While cold water is adequate, mixing cold and hot water is even better, as warm water freezes more slowly.

How to Identify Frozen Pipes

If you’re uncertain whether your pipes are frozen, watch for these signs:

  • Cracks or bulges appear on pipes, signaling internal freezing
  • Ice or frost appears on exposed pipes
  • Faucets stop flowing or only slightly trickle water when turned on.

What to Do If You Have Frozen Pipes

If your pipes do freeze, don’t panic. Follow these steps:

  1. Turn Off the Tap: Shut off the main water supply to ensure pipes will not burst since the pipes appear frozen. You can turn it back on once they have thawed.
  2. Thaw: Carefully warm the pipes using a heating pad, hairdryer, or warm towels. Avoid using open flames.
  3. Call in the Pros: If accessing pipes is difficult, or they remain frozen, call our Memphis emergency line: (901) 221-4033 X 113

Emergency Restoration For Water Damage

A burst pipe becomes disastrous almost immediately, causing water damage, flooding, and costly repairs. If you encounter a burst pipe, reach out to CrewPros right away. Our emergency service line is available 24/7, 365 days a year, and we respond quickly to stop the flow of water and mitigate damage.

When our emergency plumbers arrive, their top priority is to prevent and address water damage. We’ll shut off the water to prevent further damage, and conduct an assessment of the impacted areas. Plus, we can provide information to your insurance team to streamline service. Once we have an idea of the damage, we can repair or replace burst pipes, as well as remove water and dehumidify the space to prevent mold growth with our emergency restoration and remediation services for your home.

After everything is cleaned up, our team can insulate at-risk pipes and provide additional preventative maintenance.

Let CrewPros Handle All Of Your Home Services Needs

If you’re facing frozen pipes or simply need to winterize your home, CrewPros Home Services is here to help.